SCOTLAND

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Darling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

Fisheries Council

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on progress of negotiations towards the December Fisheries Council.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend and the First Minister discuss a wide range of matters.

Top-up Fees

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from (a) student representative bodies and (b) the university sector in Scotland on the subject of top-up fees.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend has not received any representations on the subject of variable tuition fees from student representative bodies, but he has had correspondence from three MPs writing on behalf of Scottish universities and individual students.

Top-up Fees

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what written representations he has received from the First Minister of Scotland on the subject of top-up fees.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 8 December 2003
	My right hon. Friend has frequent exchanges with the First Minister on a range of relevant issues, including the possible impact in Scotland of the introduction of variable tuition fees in England.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Noise Pollution

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions exist for the police to take action against motorists who emit loud noise from car stereos.

Ben Bradshaw: The police have powers to restrict noise from moving vehicles under Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. This regulation makes it an offence to use a motor vehicle on the road in such a manner as to cause any excessive noise that could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the driver; this includes excessive noise from car stereos. The penalty is a fine of up to £1,000.
	In addition, Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 gives power to seize a vehicle if it is being used in certain specified circumstances, including in a manner
	"causing or likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public".
	The Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/3049) provide for the retention, safe-keeping and disposal by the police (or persons authorised by them) of vehicles seized under section 59.

Cider

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of cider was produced in the UK in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The volume of cider produced in each of the last five financial years for which data are available is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year Million litres 
		
		
			 1997–98 475 
			 1998–99 495 
			 1999–2000 505 
			 2001–01 510 
			 2001–02 495 
		
	
	Source:
	Mintel

Cider

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total profit made by UK cider producers was in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The total profit before tax made by major cider producers in the UK in each of the last five financial years for which data are available is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 51 
			 1998–99 15 
			 1999–2000 28.5 
			 2000–01 49 
			 2001–02 5 
		
	
	Source:
	Defra

Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by her Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was.

Alun Michael: Information and statistics on the distribution of the Department's funds are not normally held on a parliamentary constituency basis. The following tables show as fully as possible details of projects that have benefited St. Helens since 1997.
	
		Countryside stewardship scheme (part of the England rural development programme)
		
			 Project funded by Defra Project 1 Project 2 Project 3 Project 4 Project 5 Project 6 
		
		
			 Project was announced 2002 2002 1995 1995 2001 1998 
			 Project started 2002 2002 1995 2000 2001 1999 
			 Funding provided by Defra Defra Defra Defra Defra Defra 
			 Third party n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Target group General public General public General public General public General public General public 
			 Funding since 1997 (£) 558.75 477.90 3,000.00 1,500.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 
			 Name of the project Access Access Educational access Educational access Educational access Educational access 
		
	
	
		European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (St. Helens)—Objective 1 Merseyside
		
			 Project funded by Defra Project 1 Project 2 Project 3 Project 4 Project 5 
		
		
			 Objective 1 2000–06 2000–06 2000–06 2000–06 2000–06 
			 Project started January 2003 September 2003 September 2003 March 2001 March 2001 
			 Funding provided by Defra Defra Defra Defra Defra 
			 Third party EU EU EU EU EU 
			 Target group Farmer Farmer Farmer Land owners Land owners 
			 Funding since 1997 (£) 23,000 16,000 18,000 66,000 150,000 
			 Name of the project Farm diversification Food processing and marketing Food processing and marketing Forestry Forestry 
		
	
	
		Processing and marketing grant (ended 1996)
		
			 Project funded by Defra Project 1 
		
		
			 Project was announced Unknown 
			 Project started 1996 
			 Funding provided by Defra 
			 Third party None 
			 Target group Poultry processor 
			 Funding since 1997 (£) 162,474 
			 Name of the project n/a 
		
	
	
		Environment quality and waste
		
			 Project funded by Defra Project 1 Project 2 
		
		
			 Project was announced December 2003 December 2003 
			 Project started April 2004 April 2004 
			 Funding provided by Defra Defra 
			 Third party None None 
			 Target group General public General public 
			 Funding since 1997 (£) 645,000 350,000 
			 Name of the project n/a n/a 
		
	
	The latest information on regional progress in the national headline indicators of sustainable development were published by Defra in the second edition of the 'Regional quality of life counts' report on 21 June 2002. This provides updated regional figures and analysis for 13 of the 15 headline indictors for each of the English Government Office Regions. The Government's third annual report on sustainable development in the UK—Achieving a better quality of life—was published by Defra on 24 February 2003. Both publications are available on the Government's sustainable development website: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk. In addition, a wide range of information about the Department's policies and work is also included in the Defra Publication Scheme which was introduced in November 2002 and is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence of TB in badgers in (a) England, (b) Herefordshire and (c) Worcestershire was in the last six months for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 1 December 2003
	Data from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) and the associated current Road Traffic Accident (RTA) survey are not available. The most recent data available are for the period 18 February 1999 to 18 August 1999. These data are sourced from the previous RTA survey and sources other than from badger removal operations, and pre-date the current RTA and RBCT.
	The following table shows the number of badger carcases tested for Mycobacterium bovis (the causative organism for bovine tuberculosis) for this period. Data for Hereford and Worcester were collected together, and thus given as a total.
	
		Badgers tested for Mycobacterium bovis 18 February 1999 to 18 August 1999
		
			  England Hereford and Worcester 
		
		
			 Number of badger carcases tested 771 128 
			 Number of badger carcases M.bovis positive 72 19 
			 Percentage 10.1 14.8 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide incidence rates for TB in badgers for the period in the absence of data about the date badgers became infected.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people, since 1998, have been arrested for interfering with Government badger traps; and how many have been prosecuted.

Ben Bradshaw: The arrest and prosecution of anti-trial activists is the responsibility of the relevant police forces in whose areas the Randomised Badger Culling Trial areas are located, and the Crown Prosecution Service. Defra does not receive information on, or maintain records of, such arrests and prosecutions.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what deleterious effects on wildlife arising from the current badger population level have been recorded by her Department and other UK public bodies.

Ben Bradshaw: Previous research has shown that there is a negative relationship between badger and hedgehog abundance, i.e. more badgers equals fewer hedgehogs, in rural areas. This is believed to be due to hedgehog predation by badgers and through hedgehogs avoiding areas of higher badger density. However, this is not necessarily a "deleterious effect on wildlife", since predator/prey interactions are a feature of ecosystems. It has been suggested that badgers may impact adversely on some species of ground nesting birds. The interaction between the badgers and other species in the ecosystem is the subject of a study being carried out by the Central Science Laboratory. This study is being conducted in selected areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial and the results will not be available until after the fieldwork programme finishes at the end of 2004.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost has been of the reactive cull component of the Government's Randomised Badger Culling Trials.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to give an accurate cost of the reactive element of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. The total cost of the trial to the end of March 2004 is forecast to have reached £30.5 million.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers have been killed as part of the Randomised Badger Culling Trials; how many were tested for TB infection; and how many were culture positive for TB.

Ben Bradshaw: As at 5 December 2003, 8,276 badgers had been culled in the Randomised Badger Culling Trials. All culled badgers are tested for TB infection. On the advice of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, data on the prevalence of TB in badgers caught in the trial, along with locations of their capture and the incidence of TB in cattle in trial areas, once triplets are active, are not released. This is to protect the integrity of the trial, and for the security of Defra field staff and farmers co-operating in the work.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are used to assess whether a reactive badger culling programme is effective.

Ben Bradshaw: These are set out in the Second Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. Essentially, over the same time period, the number of cattle herd breakdowns in reactive trial areas are compared with the number of herd breakdowns in the survey only trial areas, taking into account factors such as numbers of herds per trial area, timing of tuberculin test and a number of other variables. For analytical purposes, the starting point used for such comparisons, for each triplet, is the end of the initial culling operation in the proactive trial area.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the results of the research into the interaction between TB in badgers and TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 1 December 2003
	The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISO) intends to publish the results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial as soon as possible following its predicted conclusion in 2006.
	In line with its undertaking to report any significant results that emerge from analyses before the trial's conclusion, the ISO recently reported results that indicated that localised badger culling seemed to increase TB incidence in cattle. These results stem from a comparison between the level of TB incidence in cattle in the reactive culling and the control (no culling) treatment areas. Further information is available from the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/index.htm and from a paper the ISO have published in Nature www.nature.com/nature.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what examples there have been of reactive badger culling programmes in England where the work was successful in controlling TB in cattle; and where and when those programmes were carried out.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the early 1970s MAFF/Defra has carried out a range of badger control strategies in an attempt to reduce TB incidence in cattle. These were reviewed in the Krebs Report in 1997 where, among other things, it was recommended that a scientific field experiment be set up to test rigorously the effectiveness (and cost-effectiveness) of different badger culling strategies and to provide the evidence on which to base future TB control strategies. The Krebs report recommended a randomised block approach comprising three treatments: reactive culling, proactive culling, and no culling. The Randomised Badger Culling Trial, as recommended by Krebs and designed by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, commenced in 1998.
	Previous control strategies included Gassing (1975–82), Clean Ring (1982–86), Interim (1986 to 1998) and Live Test (1994–96) further details are available in the Krebs Report Chapter 5 page 76. None of the control strategies has been assessed in a properly designed experiment to establish their efficacy. While removal operations may have had an effect on the prevalence of TB in badgers and on herd breakdowns, other factors may also have influenced these. In the absence of scientific controls, it is not possible to separate out the effects of badger removal from these confounding factors.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the incidence of TB in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in England during (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: It is only possible to make estimates of the incidence of bovine TB in cattle based on previous years. Unfortunately, data for both 2002 and 2001 cannot be easily compared with earlier years. This is because, in 2001, TB testing was largely suspended during the foot and mouth disease outbreak, and in 2002 much of the testing effort was aimed at high-risk herds and those with overdue tests. Nevertheless, early indications suggest that the reduced levels of testing in 2001 have not substantially altered the underlying historical trend of confirmed TB incidents in cattle, which continues to rise at a yearly average rate of about 18 per cent. for new herd incidents.
	No estimates have been made regarding the incidence of TB in badgers.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the level of funding to laboratories for the examination of bovine samples for M. bovis on the time scale for the testing of samples.

Ben Bradshaw: Culture of samples for Mycobacterium bovis (the causative organism for bovine tuberculosis) takes at least six weeks. A backlog of samples built up at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) after the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.
	An extra £650,000 funding was made available in 2003–04 to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) to tackle the backlog. So far in 2003, the monthly throughput at VLA of bovine samples for culture has been more than three times higher than in 2002. Fresh samples are now being processed as they arrive at VLA and we are further reducing the backlog of frozen samples.
	At the end of October 2003 there were 1,781 tissue samples awaiting culture at the VLA (down from 6,329 at the end of March 2003). Nearly all of the outstanding samples (1,712) are from carcases that showed no visible lesions at post-mortem, and thus not causing a delay in lifting movement restrictions from farms.

Chemical Solvents

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls apply to the use of chemical solvents as substitute fuels in cement kilns; and what monitoring takes place of emissions which might reasonably be expected to derive from such use.

Ben Bradshaw: The use of solvents as substitute fuel in a cement kiln requires a permit from the Environment Agency. The permit contains conditions specific to the cement kiln which include:
	(a) a specification for the substitute fuel(s);
	(b) requirements for on-site storage and handling of substitute fuel(s);
	(c) requirements for monitoring and sampling to ensure that out-of-specification substitute fuel is not burned in the kiln;
	(d) a range of other requirements ensuring adequate control of the process;
	(e) emission limits for pollutants likely to be emitted in significant quantities; and
	(f) requirements for monitoring and reporting emissions.
	Permits require the continuous monitoring of the following parameters:
	Particulate matter
	Oxides of Nitrogen (NO plus NO2 expressed as NO2)
	Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
	Carbon Monoxide (CO)
	Hydrogen Chloride (HCL)
	Oxygen, moisture, temperature and pressure
	Volatile Organic Carbon expressed as Total Organic Carbon (VOCs as TOC)
	Permits require the periodic monitoring of the following parameters:
	PM10 1
	Oxides of Nitrogen (NO plus NO2 expressed as NO2)
	Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
	Carbon Monoxide (CO)
	Hydrogen Chloride (HCL)
	Hydrogen Fluoride
	Volatile Organic Carbon expressed as Total Organic Carbon (VOCs as TOC)
	Heavy metals
	Dioxins and furans 2
	Moisture, temperature, oxygen,
	Flow
	Other species 3
	1 PM10s monitored during substitute fuel trials.
	2 Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls are being included in new permit variations.
	3 Other species may be specified based on an assessment of the fuel composition and trial data.
	Each of the above controls including monitoring requirements is considered in detail in the "Substitute Fuels Protocol"—Environment Agency guidance for managing substitute fuel trials on cement and lime kilns.

Milk

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many litres of milk were produced in the UK in each of the last 10 years; and what the national quota was in each of those years.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table gives the total amounts of quota allocated to the UK for the period 1994–95 to 2002–03 and the amount of milk produced in each of these years.
	
		Million litres
		
			 Quota year Quota allocation Amount produced 
		
		
			 1994–95 14,167 14,256 
			 1995–96 14,167 14,324 
			 1996–97 14,167 14,221 
			 1997–98 14,167 14,294 
			 1998–99 14,167 14,205 
			 1999–2000 14,167 14,232 
			 2000–01 14,179 13,885 
			 2001–02 14,186 14,103 
			 2002–03 14,186 14,064

North Norfolk Coast

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's strategy for the stretch of coastline from Happisburgh to Winterton in North Norfolk; and what the cost of implementing this strategy is.

Elliot Morley: Development and implementation of options for defending against flooding and coastal erosion is the responsibility of the flood and coastal defence operating authorities—the Environment Agency, local authorities and, in areas with special drainage needs, internal drainage boards.
	The Environment Agency is responsible for a 14 kilometre length of sea defences from south of Happisburgh village to Winterton-on-Sea. This coastline has a long history of erosion and breaching of the defences, causing flooding of a large low-lying hinterland, extending into the Norfolk Broads area.
	Defra agreed the Agency's current sea defence strategy for this frontage which recommends maintaining the existing system of sea defence structures by implementing a programme of beach recharge and groyne replacement. The estimated cost of this strategy is now £60 million, if continued over the next 50 years.
	This strategy accords with the 'Hold the Line' defence policy recommended in the current Shoreline Management Plan. This plan is currently being reviewed.

Pet Pig Walking Licences

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the veterinary resources required to administer the pet pig walking licence scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: Pet Pig walking licences are issued as routine work by Defra Local Animal Health Divisional Offices. They allow Defra to minimise the risk of disease spreading from pet pigs to commercial herds. No central record is maintained. To obtain details of the licences issued would result in disproportionate costs.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost is of completing the mapping stage of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, broken down by (a) year, (b) central government and (c) local government.

Alun Michael: By the end of October 2003, the Countryside Agency and the Planning Inspectorate had spent a total of £22.7 million on implementing Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This figure includes expenditure of £2.5 million in 2000–01; £3.4 million in 2001–02; £9.1 million in 2002–03 and £7.7 million in 2003–04. As well as the costs of mapping work completed, whether or not yet invoiced, it covers other costs arising from Part 1 of the Act, such as appeals, restrictions and publicity, and it includes staff costs.
	It is not possible to give accurate figures for the remainder of the mapping exercise because there are still large external factors to be taken into account. These include the number of comments received on draft maps and the number of appeals. These variables could have a large impact on the final costs of the mapping exercise.
	The figures relate to England. Information on mapping in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. Local government is not involved in the mapping stage.

Cement Kilns

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she takes to ensure that materials agreed as suitable for fuel under the Environment Agency's Substitute Fuels Protocol in practice result in no net detriment to the environment; what formula is applied to consider relative gains against relative losses in environmental impact; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Substitute Fuels Protocol is based on the premise that it is necessary for an operator proposing to use substitute fuel(s) to undertake a programme of rigorous trials, in order to establish scientifically the facts about the possible environmental impacts of its proposals on the area around the site in question. The results of such trials ensure that the Environment Agency is able to make sound judgments as to whether or not the permanent use of substitute fuel(s) should be permitted and, if so, under what conditions.
	For applications to allow the use of substitute fuel(s), the Environment Agency ensures that the change will not produce any net detriment to the environment.
	The methodology for making this assessment is entitled "H1: Environmental Assessment and Appraisal of BAT" published by the Environment Agency. This methodology enables different operating scenarios to be compared for emissions to all media.

Cement Kilns

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what analysis is carried out to determine the impact on emissions from cement kilns of (a) particulate matter and (b) complex chemical compounds from the switch from fossil based fuels to substitute fuels, with particular reference to hazardous waste.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency requires operators to conduct a comparative environmental assessment of process emissions, including particulate matter and complex chemical compounds such as dioxins and furans, when plant operation is switched from burning fossil fuels to substitute fuels, such as hazardous wastes.
	Particulate matter is continuously monitored irrespective of the operating scenario.
	Complex chemical compounds such as dioxins and furans monitored using extractive techniques. Other compounds may be specified based on an assessment of the fuel composition and trial data. In addition, irrespective of the fuel composition, carbon monoxide and volatile organic carbon emissions are continuously monitored as they are both considered a good surrogate for monitoring efficient combustion. The operational criteria specified for hazardous waste combustion (temperature greater than 1100oC and residence time at least two seconds) are exceeded in cement kilns thus ensuring destruction of complex chemical compounds.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the ability of the planning process to enable sufficient infrastructure to be built by 2020 to manage waste in compliance with the EU's Landfill Directive.

Keith Hill: National planning policy on waste management is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 Planning and Waste Management (PPG10). PPG10 underlines that the planning system should enable adequate provision of waste management facilities in appropriate locations, without undue adverse environmental effects or nuisance. As part of the Government's wider planning reform programme, PPG10 will be reviewed in 2004 and updated as a planning policy statement (PPS). The new PPS will properly reflect and state the need for new, or upgraded, waste management facilities of all types. This will include the infrastructure required to support the prime objectives of reduction and recycling but, also, sites and plants for final treatment and disposal.

TRANSPORT

Crash Barriers

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the performance standards of barriers used on motorways and trunk roads in England and Wales are the same as those used in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Highways Agency has carried out targeted investigations into performance standards of barriers at the approaches to bridges on motorways and trunk roads in England, and of the comparative performance standards in other EU countries. This found that some other EU countries require higher performance standards than England at these locations.
	The Highways Agency is also aware that some other EU countries require higher performance standards than England for motorway and trunk road central reserve barriers. The Highways Agency is currently carrying out research into the potential safety-benefits and cost-effectiveness of increasing the current performance standard for central reserve barriers.

Emergency Vehicles

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what privileges accrue from having a vehicle fitted with an emergency blue light and siren; and what regulations govern which vehicles may be fitted with such equipment.

Kim Howells: The fitting and use of blue lights on emergency vehicles are controlled by Regulations 16 and 27 of The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, and sirens by Regulations 37 and 99 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
	The authority to fit and use blue lights and sirens does not of itself provide any special privileges for drivers.
	Privileges often associated with their use, such as exemption from speed limits are contained in Section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and exemption from certain signals and traffic signs are contained in The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations 1997 and The Traffic Signs Regulations 2002.

Public Transport (Disabled People)

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people prevented from working because they are unable to use public transport.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport has not carried out an assessment in that area.

TransPennine Express Franchise

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the Hull-Manchester Airport link was not part of FirstGroup's Public Service Requirement when it acquired the TransPennine Express franchise.

Kim Howells: The Passenger Service Requirement (PSR) for the Hull-Leeds-Manchester route, as part of the Arriva Trains Northern franchise, does not include an absolute requirement to operate services to Manchester Airport. The TransPennine Express franchise will inherit substantially the same PSR.

Transport Investment (Yorkshire and Humber)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment there was in transport in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the past five years.

Kim Howells: I refer the right hon. Member to Public Sector Statistical Analyses 2003 Tables 8.10a to 8.13b where figures covering both transport investment and resource expenditure for the years 1998–99 to 2001–02 may be found. Data for 2002–03 are not yet available.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Television

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, column 165W, on digital television, what estimate has been made of the number of households expected to purchase the new viewing card announced last month which replaces the Solus viewing card.

Estelle Morris: The latest ITC estimates for Q2 2003 are that 738,900 homes receive Free to Air (FTA) digital satellite services and could therefore wish to buy a viewing card. These figures comprise an estimate of the number of Sky viewers who have only ever been FTA viewers plus an estimate of the number of ex-Sky subscribers who continue to use their set-top boxes for viewing FTA channels.

Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by her Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was.

Richard Caborn: My Department has wholly or partly funded a wide range of projects in St. Helens since 1997, covering the arts, sport, heritage, museums and libraries. I am particularly pleased that five schools in St. Helens are taking part in the DCMS/Arts Council England 'Creative Partnerships' initiative. Additional information on this initiative and other projects that have been wholly or partly funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in St. Helens since 1997 has been placed in the Library.

Racing Greyhounds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to use the proposed Gambling Bill to improve the statutory protection for the welfare of racing greyhounds.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Bill is intended to reform the regulation of gambling rather than make provision for animal welfare: this is a matter for separate legislation now under consideration by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. However, we envisage that the premises licences for greyhound tracks which local authorities will issue under the proposed Bill will include conditions safeguarding the integrity of betting events which will entail compliance with minimum welfare standards.
	The prime responsibility for the welfare of a greyhound must reside with the owner. I am, however, presently exploring with both the bookmaking and greyhound industries if more funds could be provided for welfare through the existing voluntary funding arrangements.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

European Constitution

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is the policy of his Department that the European Constitution should specify poverty eradication as the primary objective of EU development programmes and expenditure in every developing country.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The draft new Treaty suggests that the principal aim of the Union's development policy is to reduce, and in the long term, eradicate poverty. We very much welcome this statement and have lobbied hard for this during the Convention debate.

HIV/AIDS

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to improve health delivery mechanisms in developing countries to ensure the dispersal of World Health Organisation-approved generic anti-retroviral drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is committed to working with others, including our donor partners, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, developing country governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
	With the World Health Organisation, DFID believes that affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs are all essential to improve access to medicines.
	In line with this, DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since May 1997 to support the strengthening of health and supply systems in developing countries, which will help to build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection of drugs. The UK has also pledged $280 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). This will help pay for increased coverage of proven interventions for the three diseases and some associated health systems strengthening. According to UNAIDS, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor for HIV/AIDS programmes.
	DFID supports a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, which includes prevention, treatment and care and alleviation of the impact of AIDS. We welcome recent reductions in the price of both patent and generic anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV. These reductions have created new opportunities to allow poor people to benefit from the same life-saving treatment that has been available in affluent countries. We will continue to work with the WHO, the patent based and generic pharmaceutical industries and others to further reduce prices. DFID supports the target set by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS for three million people receiving treatment by the end of 2005. A new policy on treatment and care, to be launched early next year, will set out how DFID will coordinate work with partners to promote anti-retroviral treatment for poor people and for women.

HIV/AIDS

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his discussions regarding HIV and retro-viral drugs for developing countries.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID supports a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, which includes prevention, treatment and care and alleviation of the impact of AIDS. Recent reductions in the price of anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV has created new opportunities to allow poor people to benefit from the same life-saving treatment that has been available in affluent countries. This is why we support the target set by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS for three million people receiving treatment by the end of 2005.
	DFID, the World Health Organisation and others believe that affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs are all essential to improve access to medicines. DFID is committed to continuing our discussions with others, including our G8 partners, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, developing country governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. A new policy on treatment and care, to be launched early next year, will set out how DFID will coordinate work with partners to promote anti-retroviral treatment for poor people and for women.

Malaria

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Government has contributed towards research and development into affordable anti-malarial drugs in 2003–04; and how much it plans to spend in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is supporting public-private partnerships to develop the new generation of affordable drugs required for malaria control in developing countries. In 2003–4, we are contributing £1 million in support of the work of Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). We will also contribute £1 million to MMV in 2004–5 and a further £1 million in 2005–6.
	We are working in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, the World Health Organisation and the University of Liverpool to develop an effective, safe and affordable drug called Lapdap, for treating drug resistant malaria. DFID is currently funding compliance and pharmacovigilance trials of Lapdap. Our funding in 2003–4 will be £213,000 and in 2004–5 it will be £286,000.
	DFID contributes to the Medical Research Council whose activities include funding research projects to develop medicines for resistant strains of malaria. We provide a core contribution to WHO, some of which is used to support the WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease (TDR) to develop new approaches for treating infectious diseases, including malaria.
	Future funding plans beyond current commitments to September 2006 are under review.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Bicycle Rickshaws

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions she has had in relation to (a) the decision in the High Court on bicycle rickshaws and their ability to convey passengers safely, and (b) clarifying (i) licensing, (ii) insurance and (iii) safety rules in relation to the carrying of the public by bicycle rickshaws.

Harriet Harman: None.

Guantanamo Bay

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General if she and the Attorney-General will examine the lecture by Lord Steyn of 25 November on the legal status of British citizens at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General and I have already read a transcript of the lecture given by Lord Steyn on 25 November on the subject of Guantanamo Bay.

Mr. Roger Sylvester

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General what has been the Government's response to the recent inquest decision that the death of Roger Sylvester amounted to an unlawful killing; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: On 3 October 2003, an inquest jury returned a verdict that Roger Sylvester was unlawfully killed. Lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service were present throughout the inquest hearing and have commenced a fresh review of the case. The review will include the evidence given at the inquest once the relevant transcripts have been received. It will be for the reviewing crown prosecutor to decide, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, whether any criminal proceedings should be instituted.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Household Incomes

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of adults living on an income of less than (a) £5,000, (b) £7,500, (c) £10,000, (d) £15,000, (e) £20,000, (f) £30,000, (g) £35,000, (h) £40,000, (i) £50,000, (j) £75,000, (k) £100,000, (l) £150,000, (m) £200,000, (n) £500,000, (o) £1 million and (p) £10 million in London in each of the last six years for which information is available.

Chris Pond: The information requested is provided for households and is set out in the table.
	Number of households with net equivalised income, before housing costs, of less than:
	
		Number (million)
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) £5,000 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 (b) £7,500 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 
			 (c)£10,000 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 
			 (d) £15,000 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 
			 (e) £20,000 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 
			 (f) £30,000 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 
			 (g) £35,000 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.7 
			 (h) £40,000 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 
			 (i) £50,000 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 
			 (j) £75,000 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 
			 (k) £100,000 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 
			 (l) £150,000 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.2 
			 (m) £200,000 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.2 
			 (n) £500,000 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.3 
			 (o) £1,000,000 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.3 
			 (p) £10,000,000 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.3 
		
	
	Notes:1. Figures in the table compares reported household incomes uprated by inflation, to equivalent 2001/02 prices, against the income levels (a) to (p).2. Estimates are for London and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million.3. The estimates are sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that, in the case of the Family Resources Survey, control for tenure, Council Tax band and a number of other variables. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and to variability in non-response. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household).
	4. Income is adjusted or equivalised to take into account variations in both size and composition of the household. This process reflects the notion that a family of several people needs a higher income than a single person in order for both households to enjoy a comparable standard of living. Incomes of larger families are adjusted downwards and incomes of smaller households adjusted upwards. The equivalence scales used takes a couple with no children as the reference point, and increases relatively the income of single persons households, and reduces relatively the incomes of households with larger consumption capabilities.
	5. The estimates are presented on a Before Housing Costs (BHC) basis. Figures are provided including the self-employed
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey (FRS).

Access to Work Scheme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) deaf, (b) blind and (c) deaf-blind people have applied for the Access to Work scheme in each year since its introduction; and how many have been successful in their application; how many appeals against refusals were lodged; how many were found in favour of the claimant since the introduction of the scheme; and how many people are receiving support under the Access to Work scheme.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total number of people receiving Access to Work support in 2002–03 was 36,606; of these 15,199 were new applicants.

Access to Work Scheme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what initiatives he is planning to increase (a) awareness and (b) uptake of the Access to Work scheme.

Maria Eagle: Information on all our disability services is available from Jobcentre Plus offices, and is also available on the Jobcentre Plus web site (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk). The web address is included in our publicity material.
	Jobcentre Plus invests around £300,000 each year on marketing and publicising its specialised services and programmes for disabled people, including Access to Work. Promotional material is available in a range of media such as leaflets, audiotapes and videos.
	Disability Employment Advisers meet regularly with local employers to promote the full range of services available to disabled people, including Access to Work. In addition, many organisations for disabled people actively promote Access to Work to their members, and some also include information about the programme on their website.
	The number of people helped through Access to Work has increased year on year since 1996. In 1997–98, 12,825 people received support; that had risen to 36,606 in 2002–03.

Child Maintenance Premium

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what administrative reasons might prevent parents with care from receiving the child maintenance premium.

Chris Pond: The child maintenance premium is a key feature of the new child support scheme. It relies on links with Jobcentre Plus IT systems to match up individuals on benefit with payments received. The new IT system is designed to do this and by the end of November 7,500 of the poorest families were already benefiting from the new premium. However to apply the premium to old scheme cases would require redesigning and rebuilding both the new and old IT systems.

Chronic Pain

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of disability payments paid to sufferers of conditions associated with chronic pain was in 2002–03.

Maria Eagle: The available estimates relate to Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. In 2002–03, the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance payments made to people for whom their recorded main disabling condition was one usually associated with chronic pain amounted to some £3.8 billion.

Employment and Social Policy, Health andConsumer Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcome of the Employment and Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council was on 1 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: I represented the UK together with the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe), at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 1 December 2003.
	The Council reached partial political agreement on the Articles of a new Regulation to replace Regulation 1408/71 co-ordinating social security systems for people moving from one member state to another. In particular, member states reached a compromise on Unemployment Benefit for people who live in a member state other than the one where they last worked. This relates to a reimbursement system that member states have agreed to: the last state of work will reimburse part of the Unemployment Benefit paid by the state of residence. UK retains a Parliamentary Scrutiny on this Regulation.
	The Council discussed the Commission Communication on Structural Indicators for next year's spring Council and took note of the opinions of the Economic Policy Committee, the Working Group on Environment, Employment Committee and Social Protection Committee. The Presidency invited the General Affairs and External Relations Council to adopt joint conclusions as close as possible to the existing draft.
	The Council adopted Conclusions on disability, on immigration, integration and employment and on gender equality indicators. The Council also agreed a general approach on a Council Decision establishing a Social Protection Committee. Council noted the Other Business items without comment.
	In the Consumer Affairs part of the Council, a Resolution on the Safety of Services was adopted without comment. There was a general policy discussion on the proposed EC Regulation on Consumer Protection Co-operation, and the UK supported the proposal.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr. Hutton), represented the UK for consideration of the health items on the agenda of the Council on 2 of December.
	The main health business related to the Proposal for a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Discussion focused on the scope of the Centre, which is due to be operational by 2005, with member states agreeing it should concentrate initially on communicable disease, with the possibility of broadening the remit following external evaluation of its operations at a later date. Issues still to be resolved include the legal base, where the UK retained its reserve, and data protection requirements.
	A draft Council Decision was adopted authorising the Commission to negotiate the revision of the International Health Regulations under the framework of the World Health Organisation, within its area of competence.
	The Council Conclusions emerging from a conference on Healthy Lifestyles: Education, Information and Communication were adopted. These cover action on lifestyles monitoring and evaluation and impact assessment, aimed to help develop a European action plan to promote healthy lifestyles.
	The Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening advocating mass cancer screening through clearly established and scientifically proven methods in quality controlled screening programmes were also adopted, as was the Council Resolution on Pharmaceuticals and Public Health Challenges—Focusing on the Patients.
	The Council adopted Council Conclusions on Medical Devices which acknowledge the importance of medical devices in health and social care, endorse the good work done so far and invite further work to strengthen co-ordination, interpretation and implementation of the sectoral Directives in the interests of protecting public health.
	The Council received information from the Italian Presidency on the threat posed by malaria. The French delegation presented information on raising tobacco tax to help reduce tobacco consumption and the Irish delegation presented proposals for the forthcoming Irish Presidency where the emphasis will be placed on cardiovascular disease and e-health matters.
	No votes were taken at this Council.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pages of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation the Department put through Parliament in 2002–03.

Maria Eagle: The Department did not sponsor any primary legislation during the 2002–03 Session (13 November 2002 to 20 November 2003).
	The Department was responsible for the making of 97 General Statutory Instruments during the 2002–03 Session and these accounted for 725 pages of secondary legislation. The number of instruments produced includes some that consolidated and revoked previous instruments.

New Deal for Disabled People

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) registered with a new New Deal for Disabled People job broker, (b) been placed in work by a job broker and (c) achieved sustained work with a job broker's help since the extension of the New Deal for Disabled People.

Maria Eagle: New Deal for Disabled People was extended nationally in July 2001. Between July 2001 and September 2003, over 57,000 disabled people registered to find work; over 15,500 found work; and over 5,900 achieved sustained employment.
	Notes: 1. Overall Performance and Resource Agreement (PRA) job entries in life of programme total over 20,000. 2. Sustained employment is defined as where a person remains in work for six months or more.
	Source: DWP statistics

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of eligible people who have not received backdated winter fuel payments for the first three years of the scheme; and what the value was of such payments.

Malcolm Wicks: According to our estimate around 1.9 million people could have been eligible for backdated payments for the first three years of the scheme and about 1.2 million people have now been paid. There are no cut-off dates for these retrospective payments.
	It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the numbers who have not claimed because the estimate of those newly eligible was based on sample data. It is up to the individual, where a claim is necessary, to decide whether or not to make that claim.

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to introduce a cut-off date for claiming backdated Winter Fuel Payments for the first three years of the scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no current plans to introduce a cut-off date for claiming backdated Winter Fuel Payments for the first three years of the scheme.

Income Support

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the income support needs of women carers who are pensioners.

Malcolm Wicks: Pension Credit replaced Minimum Income Guarantee from 6 October 2003. Around half of all pensioner households are eligible and stand to gain around £400 a year. Of those eligible, over half are single women (when partners are included almost two thirds of the people who will benefit from Pension Credit are women.)
	Under Pension Credit additional amounts are included for carers. All those entitled to Carer's Allowance or treated as satisfying the qualifying conditions for the award benefit from the additional amount. A person may be entitled to Carer's Allowance even if it is not payable, (for example because of the overlapping benefit provisions). The rate is currently set at £25.10.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Wayne David: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the Making it Happen consultation.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Women announced on 30 October the Government's intention to set up a Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). The CEHR will be key to realising the Government's vision of a fairer, more prosperous, more inclusive Britain based on equal opportunities for all and respect for the dignity and worth of each person. We have set up a Task Force to advise Government on the vision for the new body, and as a first task, assist us in the preparation of a White Paper to be published in the spring.

Domestic Violence

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on proposals to tackle domestic violence as it affects women.

Patricia Hewitt: We introduced the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill in the House of Lords on 1 December 2003. This is the biggest overhaul of domestic violence legislation for 30 years.

Iraq

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on action she is taking to ensure that Iraqi women play a full part in the leadership of Iraq.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been very involved in supporting Iraqi women to play a full role in the leadership of their country.
	I recently met Dr. Raja Khuzaai, one of the two female members of the Iraqi Governing Council, to discuss concrete ways to support women's full involvement in the emerging political structures.
	I have also pledged my full support for the establishment of an Iraqi Women's Higher Council—a non-governmental advisory body on women's issues.

Sex Discrimination Act

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has to propose amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to introduce a public sector duty to promote equality between men and women.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister for Women when she will take steps to amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to introduce a public sector duty to promote equality between men and women.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are taking forward a significant legislative agenda on equality matters, and they have committed themselves to introduce a duty on public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for women and men generally when parliamentary time allows.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Inflation Target

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of state for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the change in the Bank of England's inflation target from RPIX to HICP on the competitiveness of UK businesses.

Jacqui Smith: The move of target to the HICP will have no effect on the competitiveness of UK business.

Miners' Compensation

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the legal fees charged to former coal miners who are claiming compensation for industrial illnesses.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department's position on solicitors' or claims handlers' charges is clear: we believe that all the compensation should go to the claimant without anyone taking a slice of it.
	I deplore any attempt to charge sick miners or their widows and families for legal or administration expenses, which are covered by the DTI. I am asking the firms involved to reimburse sick miners' widows and families in such cases.

Miners' Compensation

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding solicitors charging success fees in coal health compensation claims.

Nigel Griffiths: My right hon. Friend and the Prime Minister have received angry representations from hon. Members and others.
	I deplore any attempt to charge sick miners or their widows and families for legal or administration expenses that are covered by the DTI. I am asking the firms involved to reimburse sick miners widows and families in such cases.

Bangladesh

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on bilateral trade relations with Bangladesh.

Patricia Hewitt: Bilateral trade in goods between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh in 2002 was worth £549.8 million, an increase of 5 per cent. over 2001. In the first nine months of 2003, bilateral trade in goods with Bangladesh amounted to £438 million, an increase of 8.2 per cent. over the same period in 2002.
	Total UK exports to Bangladesh in 2002 were worth £66 million. Our principal exports are power generating machinery and equipment, dyeing, tanning and colouring materials and specialised industrial machinery and medical and pharmaceutical products.

Carbon Tax

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to promote the introduction of a carbon tax to apply to the energy industry.

Patricia Hewitt: Since this is a tax matter, any decisions are a matter for the Chancellor as part of the Budget process, taking account of the Government's economic, social and environmental objectives.

Bankruptcy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many self-employed people have declared themselves bankrupt in each quarter since quarter one of 2002.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of self-employed people declared bankrupt in England and Wales from the first quarter of 2002 to the second quarter of 2003 is shown in the following table. Total bankruptcies are also provided to put the figures in context. The sub-division of total bankruptcies into self-employed and other categories is not yet available for third quarter 2003.
	
		
			  Self-employed bankruptcies Totalbankruptcies 
		
		
			 2002   
			 Q1 2,261 6,027 
			 Q2 2,235 6,269 
			 Q3 2,244 6,249 
			 Q4 2,114 5,747 
			
			 2003   
			 Q1 2,468 6,912 
			 Q2 2,267 6,948 
			 Q3 n/a 7,217

Bankruptcy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many self-employed individuals were declared bankrupt (a) in the third quarter of 2003 and (b) since 1 October, broken down by industrial sector; and how many (i) employees, (ii) unemployed people and those with no occupation, (iii) directors and promoters of companies and (iv) people whose occupation is unknown were declared bankrupt (A) in the third quarter of 2003 and (B) since 1st October.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 December 2003
	There were 7,217 bankruptcies as a whole in England and Wales in the third quarter of 2003. The requested breakdown into types of individual is published one quarter in arrears of the main series and is not yet available for third quarter 2003. The third quarter data will be published on 6 February 2004. The latest data published on 7 November 2003 cover up to the second quarter of 2003 and are attached.
	
		Bankruptcies in England and Wales—Industrial analysis
		
			  2002 2003 
			 Industry Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 
		
		
			 Self-employed  
			 Agriculture and horticulture 35 34 21 42 50 
			 Manufacturing  
			 Food, drink and tobacco 6 7 3 1 4 
			 Chemicals 3 0 3 1 0 
			 Metals and engineering 72 66 63 77 50 
			 Textiles and clothing 7 7 11 21 9 
			 Timber and furniture 15 15 11 23 22 
			 Paper, printing and publishing 12 22 18 18 9 
			 Other 26 30 24 27 28 
			 Total 141 147 133 174 122 
			 Construction and Transport  
			 Construction 393 452 387 456 422 
			 Transport and communication 279 260 271 301 300 
			 Total 672 712 658 757 722 
			 Wholesaling  
			 Food, drink and tobacco 11 9 8 13 4 
			 Motor vehicles 5 2 4 10 0 
			 Other 12 3 16 15 5 
			 Total 28 14 28 38 9 
			 Retailing  
			 Food, drink and tobacco 73 79 71 68 58 
			 Motor vehicles and filling stations 25 38 37 38 35 
			 Other 187 150 144 160 146 
			 Total 285 267 252 266 239 
			 Services  
			 Insurance 9 5 9 4 8 
			 Other financial and business services 296 241 267 286 269 
			 Hotels and catering 225 291 250 263 293 
			 Total 530 537 526 553 570 
			 Other 544 533 496 638 555 
			 Total self-employed 2,235 2,244 2,114 2,468 2,267 
			   
			 Other individuals  
			 Employees 1,565 1,502 1,377 1,676 1,752 
			 No occupation and unemployed 1,748 1,853 1,688 2,133 2,217 
			 Directors and promoters of companies 82 67 85 72 102 
			 Occupation unknown 639 583 483 563 610 
			 Total other individuals 4,034 4,005 3,633 4,444 4,681 
			   
			 Total bankruptcies 6,269 6,249 5,747 6,912 6,948

Bankruptcy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will provide a breakdown by (a) age, (b) sex, (c) ethnicity, (d) region, (e) housing tenure and (f) household structure of individuals declared bankrupt in (i) each year since 1997 and (ii) each quarter in 2003.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The official bankruptcy figures for England and Wales are available broken down by the Official Receiver's Office that dealt with the case. There are no official breakdowns available by age, sex, ethnicity, housing tenure or household structure of the bankrupt.
	The following table gives the total number of bankruptcies by regions classified according to groupings of Official Receivers' Offices falling within them from 1999 to 2002 and the first three quarters of 2003.
	
		Number of bankruptcies in England and Wales by regions classified according to Official Receiver's Offices
		
			  2003 
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 
		
		
			 Anglia 3,408 3,144 3,521 3,527 1,013 1,003 1,082 
			 London 1,286 1,285 1,427 1,457 450 463 479 
			 Midlands 3,066 3,187 3,409 3,501 1,046 1,002 1,105 
			 North East 3,396 3,838 4,228 4,227 1,082 1,208 1,185 
			 North West 3,517 3,640 4,108 4,116 1,020 1,208 1,039 
			 South East 2,931 2,730 2,755 3,052 1,017 999 1,056 
			 South West 4,002 3,720 4,023 4,401 1,281 1,351 1,267 
			 Public Interest Unit 5 6 6 11 3 3 4 
			 National total 21,611 21,550 23,477 24,292 6,912 6,948 7,217

British Energy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the pension rights of employees of British Energy following the financial restructuring of that company.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 December 2003
	British Energy's proposed restructuring is intended to restore the company to long-term viability in the private sector. The pension rights of its employees will remain the responsibility of the company as at present.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter of 7 October from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire.

Patricia Hewitt: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs responded to the hon. Gentleman's letter of 7 October on 17 November. I will however be responding shortly about his query on EU subsidies on sugar.

E-business

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in the United Kingdom were trading online (a) in each quarter in 2003 and (b) in each year since 1997, broken down by region.

Stephen Timms: The DTI's International Benchmarking Study has been produced annually since 1997 and is used to measure the take-up and use of ICT's by business.
	(a) No information is available on a quarterly basis.
	(b) Trading online figures by region, are only available for the period 2000 to 2002 (earlier studies did not capture this type of information). Copies of the International Benchmarking Study for 2000 (URN 00/147), 2001 (URN 01/147) and 2002 (URN 02/147) are available from the Libraries of the House.
	The 2003 study (URN 03/147) will be published on Thursday 11 December 2003. Copies will be available from the Libraries of the House.

Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of (a) total energy production, (b) total energy primary consumption and (c) total final energy consumption in the (i) industrial sector, (ii) service sector, (iii) domestic sector and (iv) transport sector in each month in 2003.

Stephen Timms: The energy data requested are published on a quarterly basis and are currently available for the first two quarters of 2003.
	
		Million tonnes of oil equivalent
		
			  Q1 2003 Q2 2003 
		
		
			 Total Indigenous Energy Production 73.0 63.0 
			 Total Primary Consumption 71.6 55.1 
			 Total Final Consumption 50.7 37.2 
			 Of which:   
			 Industrial Sector 10.6 8.0 
			 Service Sector (including Agriculture) 6.4 4.2 
			 Domestic Sector 17.9 8.6 
			 Transport Sector 12.9 13.7 
		
	
	Further information is published in table 1.3a of Energy Trends, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. The latest edition was released on 25 September 2003; the next edition containing data for Q3 2003 will be released on 8 January 2004.

Hallmarking

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of United Kingdom Hallmarking in the context of discussions on the draft Directive on Articles of Precious Metals following the European Council of 27 November.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following the decision of the Committee of Permanent Representatives not to send the draft Directive to the Council of Ministers on 27 November, the draft Directive has now effectively been shelved again, and UK hallmarking will continue as before. After the Accession countries join the EU next year (nine of the 10 have compulsory independent hallmarking systems) there will be more support for compulsory third party marking.

Indonesia

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the export of British military equipment to Indonesia.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	All export licence applications for Indonesia are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other announced Government policies.
	All strategic exports licensed to Indonesia in 2002 are set out in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/Trade-and-Investment/Export Controls. The report also shows that the approximate value of exports of UK military goods to Indonesia in 2002 was £2,130,000.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pages of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation her Department put through Parliament in 2002–03.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department sponsored four Bills during the 2002–03 Session, which made a total of 632 pages once enacted.
	In the case of secondary legislation, my Department was responsible for the making of 141 General Statutory Instruments which would have been considered either by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments. These instruments made a total of 1,295 pages.
	It should be noted that the instruments produced by my Department include many which consolidated and revoked previous instruments and which may have been produced at the prompting of Parliamentary Committees.

Medicines (Parallel Trade)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the loss to pharmaceutical companies in the UK from parallel trade of medicines from abroad;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with pharmaceutical companies regarding the parallel trade in medicines from abroad.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	In terms of the impact on national health service expenditure, information is not routinely collected on the source of products, but from the data currently available the Department of Health estimates that parallel imports saves the NHS in England approximately £60 million per year in the community sector. No estimate is available for the hospital sector.
	The Government have not made their own assessment of the loss to pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom from parallel trade. The NHS does not reap the full benefit of the price differentials associated with parallel trade, as much of the difference is lost within the supply chain across Europe.
	Ministers in the Department of Health meet representatives of the pharmaceutical industry frequently to discuss issues affecting that sector, including parallel trade in Europe. The most recent meeting was on 2 December, between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord Warner) and representatives of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

Minimum Wage

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many completed successful investigations into underpayment of the national minimum wage there have been, broken down by constituency; and how much was recovered in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Between the start of the minimum wage in April 1999 and September 2003 the Inland Revenue have carried out 8,471 successful investigations, in which underpayments of over £14.3 million was identified.
	These statistics are not available at constituency level.

National Environment Research Council

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of its annual budget the National Environment Research Council has given to each university in England and Wales.

Patricia Hewitt: The most recent details of the expenditure by university are set out in the NERC Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2002–03 on pages 44 and 45. During this period NERC received £224.513 million grant in aid. Copies of the NERC Annual Report and Accounts were laid before both Houses of Parliament on 16 July 2003 and are also available at http://www. nerc.ac.uk/publications/annualreport2003/pages.pdf.

Overtime

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the total annual value of unpaid overtime by British workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: According to the Labour Force Survey over the four quarters to summer 2003 the average number of employees who actually worked unpaid overtime in a week was 3.82 million. On average, they worked 7.7 hours of actual unpaid overtime a week and their gross hourly pay for the hours they did get paid for was £14.95. By multiplying these numbers together (and by multiplying by 52 weeks) we get an estimated value of annual actual unpaid overtime worked by employees in the UK of £22¾ billion. If managers and senior officials who receive a salary rather than an hourly rate are excluded then the value of annual unpaid overtime falls markedly, to £12½ billion. These workers (2.55 million) on average worked 7.1 hours of actual overtime per week and their gross hourly pay for the hours they did get paid for was £13.40.

Post Office Closures

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she is satisfied with the existing arrangements for consultation by the Post Office and Postwatch on proposed post office closures.

Stephen Timms: The Government do not have a role in the consultation process for post office closure proposals, which is laid out in the code of practice agreed between Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch. I attach great importance to the role of Postwatch in protecting the interest of customers when any closure is proposed. Final decisions on closure, after consideration of representations received, are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards her Department's target of the UK obtaining 5 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources by 2003; what her assessment is of whether the target will be met within the stipulated time; what percentage of electricity has been produced from renewable sources in each year since the target was introduced; and which renewable sources have contributed in each year.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 10 December 2003
	Government Ministers acknowledged in the debates leading up to the introduction of the Renewables Obligation on 1 April 2002 that earlier hopes to obtain 5 per cent. of our electricity from renewable sources by 2003 would not be met. Such hopes had always depended on a high proportion of proposals awarded contracts under the old Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) arrangements resulting in commissioned projects, and it had become apparent that this was not happening with the necessary speed.
	The percentage of UK electricity coming from all renewable sources and the contributing categories of renewables in the years since 1999 are as follows:
	
		percentage
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 All renewables 2.76 2.75 2.62 2.96 
			 of which: 
			 Wind, wave and solar 0.23 0.25 0.25 0.32 
			 Hydro 1.45 1.35 1.05 1.24 
			 Biofuels 0.93 1.01 1.19 1.27 
			 Wastes 0.15 0.14 0.13 0.13 
		
	
	The table includes all renewable energy sources, including those not eligible for the Renewables Obligation, such as large-scale hydro, since the 5 per cent. target pre-dated the Renewables Obligation.
	The Government's target for renewable energy is for 10 per cent. of our electricity sales to come from renewable sources eligible for the Renewables Obligation by 2010.

Renewable Energy

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of renewable energy in the United Kingdom is supplied by the hydro-electric industry.

Stephen Timms: In 2002, 42 per cent. of the renewable electricity generated in the UK was from hydro-electric schemes.

Royal Mail

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Postcomm with regard to its proposals to redefine the Royal Mail's universal service obligations.

Stephen Timms: The Department has a regular dialogue with Postcomm on a wide range of postal issues concerning the postal market.

Shop Window Displays

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will extend to shop window displays the taste and decency controls that apply to advertising hoardings and advertisements on buses.

Jacqui Smith: No. Extension of the British Code of Advertising Practice would be for the Advertising Standards Authority, an independent body, to consider. However, it is already a criminal offence, under the Indecent Displays Control Act 1981, publicly to display indecent matter, which includes displays in shop windows.

Small Businesses

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) start-up and (b) failure rate was for small businesses in (i) the North West Region, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) St. Helens in each year since 1992.

Nigel Griffiths: VAT registrations are the best official guide to start-ups. VAT de-registrations and insolvency statistics give an indication of failure rates and numbers.
	The rates of businesses registering and de-registering for VAT in each calendar year from 1992 to 2002 in the North West Government Office Region, Merseyside and St. Helens, are as follows:
	
		Start-ups: VAT Registrations per 10,000 resident adults(1)
		
			  1992(2) 1993(2) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 North West 36 33 31 30 32 35 35 34 34 33 33 
			 Merseyside 28 24 22 22 22 24 24 23 23 23 22 
			 St. Helens 27 20 19 19 20 21 19 20 21 20 20 
		
	
	
		Closures: VAT De-registrations per 10,000 resident adults(1)
		
			  1992(2) 1993(2) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 North West 41 40 34 33 30 30 31 31 31 31 33 
			 Merseyside 34 31 24 25 23 21 21 20 21 19 23 
			 St. Helens 29 28 20 23 22 19 19 18 18 17 18 
		
	
	(1) Mid-year resident adult (16 and over) population estimates.
	(2) The large VAT threshold increase in 1993 means data before and after this date are only broadly comparable.
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1980–2002; population data from The Office for National Statistics
	For further information on the VAT statistics please see www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php
	The number of company insolvencies for each financial year in the North West area is as follows:
	
		Company insolvencies in the North West(3)
		
			  Company insolvencies(4) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 672 
			 2000–01 620 
			 2001–02 651 
			 2002–03 927 
		
	
	(3) Includes the Official Receivers offices of Blackpool, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent. Businesses recorded in these figures were not necessarily active in the North West prior to being wound-up.
	(4) Does not include creditors voluntary liquidations.
	For further information on the DTI insolvency statistics please see: www.dtistats.net/sd/insolv/index.htm

Sun Chemicals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the acquisition of the printing ink manufacturers Gibbons and Coates and Lovilleux by Sun Chemicals has been referred to the Competition Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 December 2003
	Ministers are no longer involved in decisions on whether to refer to the Competition Commission mergers which do not raise specified public interest considerations.
	The Office of Fair Trading is not currently investigating this acquisition.

Working Time Directive

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of workers who work more than 48 hours a week but who have not signed the opt-out to the 48-hour average working week limit.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A survey of workers' experiences of the working time regulations conducted on behalf of my Department in 2001 estimated that three quarters of long hours workers had not signed a written agreement with their employer to opt-out of the 48-hour average working week limit. Also, the Second Work-Life Balance Study: Employees Survey carried out in early 2003 estimates that 70 per cent. of employees who usually or were contracted to work more than 48 hours per week had not signed a written agreement to opt-out of the 48-hour average working week limit. Some of these employees would not have been required to sign an opt-out as not all would have worked over 48 hours per week on average over the 17 week reference period, some would have been autonomous workers and others would have been in sectors or occupations that were excluded from the regulations at the time of the surveys.

Working Time Directive

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to increase the awareness of the 48-hour average working week limit among workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Guidance on the Working Time Regulations, which includes a comprehensive chapter on the weekly working time limits is available on the Department of Trade and Industry website. In addition the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) operate an inquiry helpline on all employment related legislation, including the Working Time Regulations. As part of their work, the enforcing agencies also play a role in educating employers and workers on the working time limits.

Working Time Directive

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the numbers of workers who are unaware of the 48-hour average working week limit.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A survey of workers' experience of the working time regulations conducted on behalf of my department in 2001 estimated that around 30 per cent. of workers were unaware of laws regarding the number of hours people can work each week.

Working Time Directive

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the number of workers whose conditions of employment included a requirement to opt out of the 48-hour average working week limit.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Employers are required to keep a record of workers who have opted out of the 48-hour average working week limit. As there is no requirement to report opt out agreements to anyone other than the parties concerned, there are no official estimates of the numbers of workers whose conditions of employment included a requirement to sign an opt out. However, workers who have agreed to opt out of the weekly working time limit retain the right to end the agreement at any time subject only to a notice period of a maximum of three months.

Working Time Directive

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the UK's individual opt-out from the Working Time Directive.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The European Commission's Communication on the opt-out is expected shortly. The Government hope that the Communication will present a range of options on the opt-out that can be discussed with UK social partners.
	UK is firmly committed to reducing working hours, demonstrated by the work/life balance campaign, but the problem is workplace culture rather than a lack of laws. Work/Life balance is not just about long hours but about providing individual workers with choice over their hours or pattern of work and ensuring that they are not disadvantaged by their choice.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Personnel

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were serving in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy at the beginning of each of the last three years; what the predicted numbers are for each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The numbers of personnel serving in the armed forces over the last three years are displayed in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 1 'UK Regular Forces Strengths and Changes', a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	Each service sets manpower requirements at the level required to deliver the capabilities needed to meet their endorsed requirements. The requirements and the performance in meeting them are reported by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) both annually in UK Defence Statistics and quarterly under National Statistics arrangements. Copies of these can also be found in the House of Commons Library.

Army (Victimisation)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Army indicated when last questioned that they believed that (a) harassment, (b) discrimination and (c) bullying are problems in (i) their immediate area of work and (ii) the Army as a whole; what percentage of those responding this represents; what percentage of the actual strength this represents; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: In response to the latest Serving Personnel Army Continuous Attitude Survey, 202 of those surveyed indicated they believed that harassment, discrimination or bullying were problems within their immediate work area; this represents 12 per cent. of those who responded to this question and 12 per cent. of those who returned questionnaires. In addition, 837 serving personnel indicated that they believed harassment, discrimination and bullying were problems within the British Army; this represents 51 percent of those who responded to this question and 50 per cent. of those who returned questionnaires.
	The latest survey was undertaken in December 2002 and was sent to a four percent stratified random sample of the trained Army (excluding Gurkhas and Full Time Reserve Service).

Army (Victimisation)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Army indicated when last questioned that they have been a victim of (a) harassment, (b) discrimination and (c) bullying in the Army; what percentage of those responding this represents; what percentage of the actual strength this represents; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: In response to the latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey, those members of the Army that indicated they had been subject to harassment, discrimination or bullying in the last 12 months are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Question Number within previous 12 months: Percentage of those who answered the question Percentage of those who returned a completed questionnaire 
		
		
			 Racial Discrimination 37 2.3 2.2 
			 Racial Harassment 26 1.6 1.6 
			 Sex Discrimination 54 3.3 3.2 
			 Sexual Harassment 28 1.7 1.7 
			 Bullying 83 5.1 5.0 
		
	
	The latest survey was undertaken in December 2002 and was sent to a 4 per cent. stratified random sample of the trained Army (excluding Gurkhas and Full Time Reserve Service personnel); There may be an element of double counting in the number of occurrences, for example, one individual may have indicated they were subject to both racial discrimination and racial harassment, this having been counted twice.

Defence Finance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's budget was in (a) cash terms and (b) at 2002–03 prices for each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03; what his estimates are for each year from 2003–04 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement .

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's outturn for 1998–99 to 2002–03 and plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 at outturn prices are set out in The Government's Expenditure Plans for the MOD 2003–04 to 2005–06. These exclude the cost of unprogrammed operations and conflict prevention. At 2002–03 prices they are as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Outturn Prices 2002–03 Prices  
		
		
			 1998–99 22,321 24,393 
			 1999–2000 22,105 23,719 
			 2000–01 23,170 24,440 
			 2001–02 23,838 24,517 
			 2002–03 24,382 24,382 
			 2003–04 25,872 25,194 
			 2004–05 26,590 25,240 
			 2005–06 27,496 25,463 
		
	
	The MOD's cash outturn in 1997–98, as set out in The Government's Expenditure Plans for the MOD 2002–03 to 2003–04, was £20,748 million at outturn prices and £23,292 million at 2002–03 prices.
	Both documents are available on the MOD's website: www.mod.uk
	From 1997–98 to 2000–01 the Department was controlled in cash. Meaningful year-on-year comparison is not possible with the 2001–02 outturn in the light of the transition from cash to Stage 1 Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) in that year. Near cash figures after the transition to Stage 2 RAB, from 2003–04 to 2005–06, are intended to allow comparison with the Stage 1 RAB figures in 2001–02 and 2002–03.

Procurement

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 
	(1)  if he will list the major (a) defence estates upgrades and (b) information infrastructure upgrades that will be met from the Defence Procurement Agency budget, stating in each case (a) the in-service date and (b) the total projected cost of each project; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the amounts (a) spent on procurement through the Defence Procurement Agency in each year since 1997 and (b) projected to be spent in each year up to 2012, indicating in each case the percentage of the defence budget represented in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Procurement

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total estimated cost of (a) refurbishment of western jetties, (b) Navystar, (c) Access, (d) LITS, (e) EMMA, Phase 1 and (f) RAFT at Devonport, stating in each case (i) the in-service date and (ii) which budget line the expense will be drawn from; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

Depleted Uranium

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the UNEP depleted uranium environmental survey will be completed; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Ivor Caplin: The timing of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) environmental field survey of Iraq, of which a survey into depleted uranium is an element, will depend upon the local security situation. However, UNEP expect to commence the field survey in spring 2004. I am unable to say at present when the proposed depleted uranium survey will be complete.
	No discussions have taken place about publication but I would anticipate a copy to be made available to the Library of the House.

Mental Health

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies entered the competitive bidding process to provide psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation to members of the armed forces previously treated at the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital; and what assessment was made of the political affiliation of the board members of the bidding companies.

Ivor Caplin: Five companies responded to the initial tender advertisements that appeared in the Official Journal European Community (OJEC) Services Directive and the MOD Contracts Bulletin in February 2003. Of these, four attended an Industry Day held on the 15 April 2003, and subsequently three received Invitations to Tender: Cygnet Health Care, The Priory Group, and Affinity Health Care. The first two of these submitted final tender responses.
	Following detailed evaluation of the tender bids, The Priory's tender was considered the most technically compliant and they were accordingly awarded the contract.
	No assessment was made of the political affiliation of the bidding companies. The Ministry of Defence's competitive tendering arrangements do not take such factors into account.

Missile Defence

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Department of Defence on the technical issues to do with the UK sites encountered in developing missile defence.

Geoff Hoon: None, though officials have a wide range of contacts with US experts on technical matters relating to missile defence. As I told the House on 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 11WS, the Government have agreed to the upgrading of the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes. UK and US officials are discussing the detailed plans for this upgrade, and we expect to finalise the necessary bilateral agreement shortly.

Navigational Aids

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what navigational aids are employed by the Ministry of Defence; where they are stationed; and at what cost, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence uses both sea and land based navigational aids. For sea based aids the Department currently operates four vessels used to lay/recover and undertake annual maintenance of some 205 navigational buoys, 120 moorings and 15 targets around the coast of the British Isles. The Department also maintains 12 Oceanographic Data Acquisition System buoys for the Meteorological Office. The sea based navigational aids are provided to mark channels, boundaries or hazards contained within the dockyard ports, trials ranges and areas of interest to MOD.
	This work is to be included in a PPP/PFI Acquisition programme for future provision of Marine Services, and I am withholding details of expenditure in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Effective management and operations of the public service).
	The requested information on land based navigational aids will take some time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Northern Ireland Veterans

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many claims have been made to the Veterans' Agency for post traumatic stress disorder-related illnesses attributed to service in Northern Ireland since 1973;
	(2)  how many war pensions are being paid to members of the armed forces injured during their service in Northern Ireland.

Ivor Caplin: The information is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland Veterans

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Northern Ireland veterans have taken their own lives (a) after and (b) during their service in Northern Ireland since 1973.

Ivor Caplin: Between 1984 and 2002 there have been 45 deaths among Regular Service personnel serving in Northern Ireland recorded with a suicide verdict or an open verdict from a coroner. During this period there were three other deaths among Regular Service personnel serving in Northern Ireland for whom we are waiting for a coroner's verdict. Information on deaths prior to 1984 is not held centrally. Information on other Service personnel who may have served in Northern Ireland, but died in Service elsewhere is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on deaths of Service personnel after they have left the Service is also not generally available to the Ministry of Defence.

Northern Ireland Veterans

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from associations or organisations specifically set up to support Northern Ireland veterans.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has not received any reports from organisations specifically set up to support Northern Ireland veterans. The recently formed Northern Ireland Veterans Association has been invited to attend the next Veterans Plenary Forum on 24 March 2004 which I chair as Minister for Veterans.

Nuclear Deterrent

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances it would be necessary to replace Trident; and what implications this would have for the renewal of Article III of the Mutual Defence Agreement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 3.11 of the Defence White Paper (Cm 6041) which was laid before the House on 11 December, in which the Government stated that
	'decisions on whether to replace Trident are not needed this Parliament but are likely to be required in the next one. We will therefore continue to take appropriate steps to ensure that the range of options for maintaining a nuclear deterrent capability is kept open until that decision point'. Implications for the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement, or other relevant agreements, are therefore hypothetical at this stage.

Reserve Forces

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to encourage more employers to enable their workforces to participate in the reserve forces.

Ivor Caplin: The SaBRE (Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers) campaign aims to win and maintain the support of employers for the Volunteer Reserves. This is achieved through a combination of highly targeted direct marketing and the establishment of a network of Employer Support Executives to focus employer support at the regional level. We are confident that SaBRE succeeds in generating increased levels of interest in, and support for, our Volunteer Reserve forces, and demonstrate to employers the benefits of employing reservists in their organisations.
	In addition, as part of the overall process of identifying lessons learned from all aspects of Operation Telic, we will be reviewing the employer support package, including the right to claim financial assistance to cover the additional costs resulting from the call out of a member of staff.
	Also as a result of our experiences during Operation Telic we intend to foster greater involvement of employers in "intelligent mobilisation" in the future. This process recognises that, if there is time, it is better to seek volunteers for specific posts whose employers have given permission for them to be mobilised. Where possible, we will also endeavour to provide reasonable notice of mobilisation plans and improve the flow of information to employers about mobilised Reservists.

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether HMS Bridport has been placed in (a) reserve and (b) extended readiness.

Adam Ingram: The terms 'in reserve' and 'extended readiness' are broadly similar, although the latter is in more common usage and describes the very low level readiness state in which HMS Bridport is currently held.

CABINET OFFICE

Art Acquisition

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 was; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of its works of art has been since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office has not spent any monies on the acquisition of works of art since 1997. No revenue has been raised by the Cabinet Office through sales of its works of art.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Douglas Alexander: It is Cabinet Office policy to purchase on the basis of value for money. Whilst we have no specific policy on purchasing Fair Trade products, we encourage our contracted catering providers to purchase Fair Trade products where commercially practicable and viable.

Hutton Inquiry

David Cameron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reason the document 'Submissions of the Government to the Inquiry' (CAB/28/0002–0017), submitted to the Hutton Inquiry, was not published; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Lord Hutton conducted the inquiry on the basis that all the evidence given by witnesses at the inquiry and all the documents referred to in evidence, together with the oral statements of Counsel to the inquiry, would be made public, but that the written submissions of the parties would not be made public, pending the publication of his report. After the publication of the report Lord Hutton will decide whether some or all of the written submissions should be published.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 in combating electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: We are satisfied that the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 has proved to be successful in combating electoral fraud and has improved public confidence in the electoral process. Furthermore I am also pleased to see that a report, published by the Electoral Commission on 9 December, concludes that the register more accurately reflects those entitled to be registered than the previous register.
	However, we also recognise that work still needs to be done to ensure that all those entitled to have the opportunity to register. We will continue to work closely with the Electoral Office and the Electoral Commission to ensure this happens.

Fire Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time fire officers were serving in the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on Fire Service recruitment in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The numbers of whole-time and retained fire fighters serving in the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  Whole-time Retained 
		
		
			 1997 918 975 
			 1998 909 971 
			 1999 881 960 
			 2000 879 798 
			 2001 894 799 
			 2002 895 812 
			 2003 887 788 
		
	
	The Northern Ireland Fire Brigade has just completed one of the most extensive retained recruitment campaigns in the UK fire service, having recruited 126 retained fire-fighters over 41 stations in recent months. A further retained recruitment campaign will be launched in January 2004.
	The Brigade is currently short-listing candidates to fill whole-time vacancies.

Fire Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks on firefighters there have been in each Fire Authority district in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what steps he is taking to reduce such attacks; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The information requested by the hon. Lady is set out in the following table. Information is available at this level of detail only from 2001.
	The reported increase in 2002 is partly the result of improved recording procedures. Although the reduction this year is welcome, attacks on firefighters—and other staff in the emergency services—are criminal offences and utterly unacceptable. I have taken every opportunity to condemn them, and continue to do so in the strongest possible terms.
	This year I have made available to the fire and ambulance services special additional funding, totalling £400,000, to help them to raise public awareness that such attacks endanger not only their crews but also those members of the public they are trying to help.
	I am grateful to those elected representatives and community leaders who have been using their influence to reinforce this message, and I urge them to continue to do so.
	
		Reported attacks on firefighters by district, 2001–03
		
			 District 2001 2002 2003(to 5 December) 
		
		
			 South and East Belfast 38 126 82 
			 North and West Belfast 59 142 122 
			 Ballymena 3 10 4 
			 Coleraine 0 2 2 
			 Glengormley 5 28 21 
			 Lisburn 0 7 1 
			 Portadown 4 16 24 
			 Bangor 1 17 9 
			 Newry 9 23 14 
			 Downpatrick 1 5 5 
			 Londonderry 10 20 21 
			 Omagh 1 1 1 
			 Cookstown 2 9 7 
			 Enniskillen 0 4 2 
			 Total 133 410 315

Hare Coursing

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will meet (a) the Game Conservancy Trust and (b) Professor Montgomery of the School of Biology at Queen's University, Belfast, to discuss management of the hare population in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: As Minister with responsibility for environmental matters, including issues relating to management of the Irish hare population, I would be prepared to consider any request for a meeting on the issue.

Hare Coursing

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) legal coursing on the recovery of the hare population and (b) appropriate land management by coursing clubs and responsible hunting groups on hare conservation; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: No such assessments have been made.
	The Species Action Plan (SAP) for the Irish Hare, published by the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment in October 2000, contains a number of steps to encourage all relevant landowners to adopt hare and habitat management practices that will contribute to the SAP objective to double the population of Irish Hares, over as wide an area as possible, by 2010.

Hare Coursing

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reliability of evidence for the decline in the Irish hare; what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) setting up a monitoring system and (b) developing current hunting, shooting and coursing practices to ensure they cannot have an unsustainable impact on hare numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Irish Hare Species Action Plan, published by the Department of the Environment in 2000, identified the need for regular surveys of the Irish hare population, building on the baseline population for the species established by research commissioned by the Department from Queen's University of Belfast (QUB) in 1997. This was followed by The Northern Ireland Irish Hare Survey 2002, also carried out on the Department's behalf by QUB. Both reports confirmed that Irish hare numbers are low. I am satisfied that this research provides as accurate a population estimate as can be made for such an elusive and uncommon animal.
	The Department intends to carry out regular monitoring throughout Northern Ireland in order to detect future trends in Irish hare numbers. The next survey is scheduled for spring 2004.
	No assessment has been made of the effect on hare numbers of developing current hunting, shooting and coursing practices to ensure they cannot have an unsustainable impact on hare numbers. These practices are subject to the provisions of the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928, as amended. I recently published notice under the Act, of a proposal to introduce a temporary ban on the killing or taking, or the sale or purchase of Irish hares. This is intended to allow time to consider, within a current review of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, whether there is a need to strengthen the statutory protection afforded to the Irish hare.

Hare Coursing

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what scientific evidence he has assessed that supports the case for banning hare hunting and coursing in Northern Ireland; for what reason such evidence was not circulated in detail to concerned parties; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Research carried out at the Queen's University of Belfast (QUB) reported in 1997 that the population of the Irish Hare was at low density in Northern Ireland.
	This assessment was followed up by a research study, "The Northern Ireland Irish Hare 'Lepus timidus hibernicus' Survey 2002", commissioned by the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment and also carried out by QUB. It reported that Irish Hares were widespread but occurred at a low density of about one hare per kilometre square. The report of this study included the recommendation that the Department should consider removal of the Irish Hare from the quarry list and giving protection under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. This recommendation is among the issues being considered in a current review of the Wildlife Order.
	I considered the research and survey report in the context of the Irish Hare Species Action Plan published by EHS in 2000, which has among its objectives a target to double the Irish Hare population, over as wide an area as possible, by 2010. The inconsistency between this policy objective and the continuing practice of hunting and coursing Irish Hares led to the proposal for a temporary ban on the killing or taking, or the sale or purchase, of Irish Hares, pending the outcome of the Wildlife Order review.
	A seminar delivering the results of the 2002 Survey was held in January 2003 at Queen's University Belfast. Interested parties were invited to attend. Following this seminar the full text of the report was made available on the EHS website, (http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/ pubs/publications/Irish HareSurvey2002.pdf) where it remains available, together with the Irish Hare Species Action Plan. Copies of both documents have also been placed in the Library.

Hare Coursing

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of all the evidence and advice given to him by his Department on the issue of the ban on hare-hunting.

Angela Smith: I have placed in the Library copies of:
	Biodiversity in Northern Ireland—Species Action Plans—Irish Hare, Chough and Curlew, published by the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment in 2000; and
	The Northern Ireland Irish Hare "Lepus timidus hibernicus" Survey 2002 by Dr. Jane Preston, Dr. Paulo Prodohl, Dr. Alex Portig and Professor Ian Montgomery of the Queen's University of Belfast; commissioned by the Environment and Heritage Service.
	These documents provide evidence of the size of the Irish Hare population and assess the reasons for the decline in its numbers. They were the principal sources of information on the low numbers of Irish Hare on which I took the decision to refuse a licence to a coursing club to net hares and to propose the making of a special protection order to introduce a temporary ban on killing and taking Irish Hares, pending the outcome of a current review of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, which will examine, among other things, whether the Irish Hare should be placed on the list of species that are protected at all times.

Milk

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with representatives from Northern Ireland's dairies in relation to milk prices.

Ian Pearson: I have had no formal discussions recently with representatives from Northern Ireland's dairies in relation to milk prices. This is a reserved matter and it is not Government policy to interfere in the operation of normal market forces. I note, however, that average producer price for raw milk sold in Northern Ireland in October 2003, at 21.18 pence per litre, was 15.6 per cent. higher than the price of 18.32 pence per litre realised in October 2002.

NHS Direct

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce NHS Direct to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has sought to introduce a pilot project based on the NHS Direct concept in the Western Health and Social Services Board area to test the system locally. Two bids were made for Executive Programme Funds to support this initiative but these were unsuccessful. The Department is currently engaged in the development of a Primary Care Strategy Framework document that will identify those issues that matter to people who use the service. The Strategy will determine the priority to be accorded to various initiatives to be introduced to primary care over the next 20 years.

Police Act 1997

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date Part V of the Police Act 1997 will commence in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: There is no date for the commencement of Part V of the Police Act 1997 in Northern Ireland as yet.

Police Act 1997

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether an implementation plan exists for the commencement of Part V of the Police Act 1997 in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: We are considering how best to implement Part V of the Police Act 1997 in Northern Ireland and are exploring a number of options. It is important to note that the Pre-Employment Consultancy Service will continue to check the suitability of those seeking to work with children pending the implementation of Part V of the Police Act.

Police Act 1997

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Part V of the Police Act 1997 will be commenced in tandem with the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003.

Jane Kennedy: We are considering how best to implement Part V of the Police Act 1997 and officials from the DHSSPS(NI) and other relevant NI departments will be involved in such considerations.

Potato Ring Rot

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of ring rot to Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The recent finding of potato ring rot in Wales poses a significant threat to the potato industry in Northern Ireland. Stringent preventative measures are already in place to minimise the risk of this disease spreading to Northern Ireland. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has increased its existing preventative actions. Its response to the current incident has included:
	checking and sampling of crops produced from GB seed potatoes this year;
	further targeted sampling of GB seed potatoes due to be planted in Northern Ireland in 2004;
	increased monitoring by inspectors at the ports of Belfast, Larne and Warrenpoint of all seed and ware potato imports;
	increased inspections at premises of importers and processors, including inspections of stocks and checks on sources and reliability;
	the issue of letters to merchants and importers seeking information on imports. Letters will also be sent to all growers; and
	meetings with stakeholder representatives and key industry individuals to provide scientific information on the disease and advice on new preventative measures.

Student Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with representatives from Northern Ireland's universities in relation to tuition fees.

Jane Kennedy: I have had no discussions with representatives from Northern Ireland's Universities in relation to tuition fees. If student fees are increased in England, I will consider the implications for Northern Ireland with my officials and the relevant stakeholders, with a view to bringing forward proposals for consultation.

Working Time Directive

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implementation of the European Union Working Time Directive in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The European Directive on Working Time (93/104/EC) and the related Directive (94/33/EC) on the protection of young people at work were given effect in Northern Ireland by the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998, S.R. 1998/386. Subsequently, there have been two significant amendments to the 1998 Regulations, both of which were made this year, namely:
	the Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, S.R. 2003/119, which implement certain provisions of the 1994 Directive which had not previously been introduced (maximum working day and working week, and restrictions on night work by young workers)
	the Working Time (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, S.R. 2003/330 which implemented a further Directive known as the Horizontal Amending Directive (2000/34/EC). This extended working time provisions to previously excluded sectors (i.e. air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport, sea fishing, other work at sea and doctors in training). The provisions for doctors in training will not apply until 1 August 2004.
	Certain provisions of the Horizontal Amending Directive, which are being given effect on a UK-wide basis, have yet to be implemented.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action allied troops in Afghanistan are taking to (a) counter opium production and (b) interdict opium trade.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	International forces in Afghanistan are helping to train the Afghan Transitional Administration's security forces and, in Kabul, to assist in maintaining security. By doing so, troops of both the coalition and the International Security Assistance Force contribute towards the counter-narcotics programmes of civilian law enforcement and development agencies. They also help the Afghans themselves create the structures through which they can implement more effectively President Karzai's commitment to deal with both opium fanning and trafficking in his country.

Algeria

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanism will be put in place to monitor Algeria's adherence to the human rights principles laid out in the EU/Algeria Association Agreement, once the Agreement is ratified.

Bill Rammell: Under Articles 92–95 of the EU/Algeria Association Agreement, an Association Council will be established which shall meet at ministerial level once a year and examine any major issues arising within the framework of the agreement.
	Article 2 states that human rights shall constitute an essential element of this agreement.

Ascension Island

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will amend the 1956 Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground Agreement in order to charge rent to the United States for their occupation of Wide Awake Airfield and additional land exclusively occupied by US personnel on Ascension Island; and if he will arrange for the rent to be made payable to the Ascension Island administration.

Bill Rammell: We have no plans to amend the 1956 Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground Agreement.

Bangladesh

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Bangladesh concerning (a) attacks upon and (b) intimidation of (i) Christians and (ii) Hindus by militant Islamist groups.

Mike O'Brien: Officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka regularly raise discrimination against religious minorities and other human rights concerns with the authorities. While I have not personally raised the issue, our High Commissioner did so with the Acting Foreign Secretary on 6 November 2003.

Colombia

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he proposes to ensure that funding to Colombia from (a) the EU and (b) the United Kingdom is used for the purposes for which it was given in the light of the Colombian Government's decision to merge the programmes of Plan Colombia, Social Solidarity Network and the Colombian Agency for International Cooperation and to create a single programme instead.

Bill Rammell: We understand the merger is to form a single coordinating agency rather than a single programme of activity.
	The UK's contribution to the EU Aid Budget to Colombia is some 19 per cent. Projects are monitored by the European Commission's office in Bogota. The workings of the merger are still settling down and it will be some time before things are completely clear. The European Commission are assessing the situation.
	Funding for other UK assistance to Colombia is not channelled through any of these organisations. Our projects are implemented by non-governmental organisations, UN agencies or other Colombian Government bodies. We always ensure the reliability and probity of all our partners.

Colombia

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to support any process of demobilisation of the paramilitaries in Colombia that fails to take into account the rights of the civilian population to truth, justice and reparation.

Bill Rammell: Before agreeing to support any process of demobilisation we would carefully consider all aspects, including the need to take into account the rights of the civilian population to truth, justice and reparation. We have stressed to the Colombian Government that in pursuing a peace process with any of the illegal armed groups that there should be no general amnesty or pardon for those who have committed human rights violations, and that all negotiations should be open, transparent and treated on the same basis.

Colombia

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the British Government will give to human rights defenders in Colombia; and if it will provide on going financial support to the UN Office on Human Rights.

Bill Rammell: We support publicly the role of human rights defenders, other NGOs and members of civil society in Colombia. We stress the importance of the role they should be given in the reform process, the need for continued dialogue, and for farther urgent and effective measures to protect them, at every opportunity. We will continue to do so.
	We continue to provide financial support to the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bogota.

Colombia

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent statements by ministers in the Colombian government that (a) the London Declaration of July 2003 is not binding and (b) the Colombian government will not be complying with all the UN recommendations on human rights because national sovereignty is more important than international commitments; and how the British Government will work with the EU to monitor full implementation of the UN recommendations.

Bill Rammell: holding answer of 10 December 2003
	None of the governments who attended the London Meeting on International Support for Colombia are bound by the London Declaration. It is a declaration not a legal document. Nevertheless, political commitments were made at the Meeting which are reflected in the Declaration. We continue to stress to the Colombian Government the importance of keeping to these commitments.
	We are working with EU partners through the Working Group in Bogota of the governments who attended the London Meeting to monitor implementation of the London Declaration, including UN recommendations. We have requested an end of year evaluation.

Colombia

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of recent accusations made by members of the Colombian military against (a) the displaced civilian populations of the Cacarica River basin and Jiguamiendo, (b) the ombudsman of Cacarica, (c) Peace Brigades International and (d) Justice and Peace for the Colombian Government's compliance with commitments they gave in July at the London Conference.

Bill Rammell: We have stressed to the Colombian Government that such blanket public accusations are inappropriate and run the risk of being counterproductive. I made this clear to the Colombian Foreign Minister when I met her in September in New York and issued a press statement following the meeting. If there are credible allegations of impropriety by individual organisations, they should be investigated by due judicial process.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 7 October 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Abu Nayem.

Chris Mullin: I would like to apologise to my right hon. Friend for not having replied to his letter of 7 October to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary about Mr. Abu Nayem.
	As a result of an administrative error a package containing a number of my right hon. Friend's letters was lost in transit between the Foreign Secretary's office and UKvisas, the department responsible for entry clearance matters arising overseas. The letters that were lost have been identified and copies have been sent to UKvisas. I can assure my right hon. Friend that the Foreign Secretary will write to him in the next few days on this case.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when will he reply to the letter to him dated 7 October 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Rana.

Chris Mullin: I can confirm that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 3 December 2003 to my right hon. Friend's letter of 6 October 2003 with regard to Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Rana.

Correspondence

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire of 7 April and 22 July, regarding his constituent Dr. McGarry.

Mike O'Brien: The reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 10 December 2003. I apologise for the delay in replying.

Eritrea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Eritrea concerning persecution of evangelical and Pentecostal Christians.

Chris Mullin: I raised this issue most recently with Eritrea's Foreign Minister when he called on me in London on 1 December. On the same day, our ambassador in Asmara raised religious freedom with Eritrea's Director for Europe. Previously, I had raised this issue with the Eritrean ambassador when he called on me on 11 September 2003.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office purchasing policy is in accordance with the Government's Public Purchasing Consolidated Guidelines, which require the procurement of goods and services to be based on value for money and that they should be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary.
	Fair trade products are widely available in our offices. Almost all tea and coffee provided for official meetings is fair trade and our canteens and restaurants sell fair trade products including coffee, tea, chocolate and muesli bars.

Former Soviet Union

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to aid former Soviet states in the decommissioning of nuclear weapons, devices and delivery systems.

Denis MacShane: The Government published on 5 December the First Annual Report on the United Kingdom's contribution to the G8 Global Partnership. The Report details the work under way to address the nuclear, chemical and biological legacies of the former Soviet Union.
	At the 2002 G8 Summit at Kananaskis in Canada, leaders pledged to provide up to US$20 billion over 10 years for a new Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that the UK would make available up to US$750 million to fund projects in pursuit of these objectives.
	Considerable progress has already been made as a result of close co-operation between FCO, DTI and MOD in conjunction with the Russian Federation and other countries of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe as well as funding partners. The signing of bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation during President Putin's State Visit in June this year has helped to consolidate a firm foundation for the UK's programme of assistance.
	The report outlines the specific projects in which the United Kingdom is involved. These include the dismantling of two Oscar class nuclear submarines and related projects; constructing a spent nuclear fuel facility, preparing the groundwork for the safe removal and storage of some 21,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies at a former Russian Navy site, and constructing the infrastructure at a major chemical weapons destruction facility.
	Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House. Further reports will be published annually setting out the progress achieved in the work being undertaken by the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Hong Kong.

Bill Rammell: District council elections took place in Hong Kong on 23 November 2003. Over a million people voted, 44 per cent. of those registered to do so, compared with a 36 per cent. turnout in the previous district council elections in 1999. The parties that secured the most out of the 400 seats available were the Democratic Party with 95 and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), which secured 62 seats. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is entitled to choose up to an additional 102 people to sit in various district councils but has yet to announce these.
	We continue to follow developments in Hong Kong closely. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary continues to report regularly to the House on the implementation of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. The last such report, which covered the first six months of this year, was published in July (Cmnd 5864).

Immigration Adjudicator

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons applied for the post of immigration adjudicator; and when he intends to announce the name of the successful candidate.

Mike O'Brien: 86 people applied for the post of Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance Refusals Without the Right of Appeal. As my hon. Friend will now be aware, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced the appointment of Fiona Lindsley in a written statement to the House on 1 December 2003, Official Report, column 53WS.

Iraq

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many schools have been renovated by coalition forces in Iraq since 1 May.

Bill Rammell: Since 1 May, UK forces have renovated 91 schools in Iraq, and are working on a further 140. We have no information about schools renovated by other Coalition forces.

Iraq

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the build up to the war with Iraq and subsequently, he permitted British Intelligence Services to intercept diplomatic communications between member states of the United Nations.

Jack Straw: In common with most governments, we do not go into detail about intelligence-related issues, including interception. I can, however, give an assurance that the only purposes for which interception may be permitted are set out in legislation: national security, safeguarding economic well-being and the prevention and detection of serious crime.

Israel

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the implementation of the Geneva agreement between representatives of Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Bill Rammell: The recognition and implementation of any final status agreement is for the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority. But, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his Statement on the Geneva Accord on 1 December "I would like to commend this initiative and the debate that it has stimulated among Israelis and Palestinians, and more widely in the International Community. I hope that this initiative will also show that Israelis and Palestinians remain capable of finding partners for peace and working together, and encourage a return to the negotiating table.

Israel

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to encourage the Palestinian Authority to take steps to prevent further suicide attacks in Israel.

Bill Rammell: The UK, nationally and with EU partners, continues to urge the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its roadmap commitments on security, and intensify its efforts to tackle groups and individuals engaging in terrorist activity. The UK is also providing practical support to the Palestinian Authority to help them to rebuild the capacity of their security forces to tackle terrorism.

Israel

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to persuade the Israeli Government to (a) stop further construction of the separation wall in the West Bank and (b) prevent more settlements being built there.

Bill Rammell: The Government have urged the Government of Israel to re-route the fence away from Palestinian areas and to freeze settlement activity. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have made clear our concerns to the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on a number of occasions. My noble Friend Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean raised these matters with the Israeli Foreign Minister during her visit to Israel on 30 September, and with the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October in London. She also raised our concerns about the fence with the Israeli Ambassador on 22 October.
	Continuing illegal Israeli settlement activity and the building of the fence on Palestinian land threaten the prospects for a two-state solution and is an obstacle to peace. Israel should reverse its settlements policy and end land confiscation for the construction of the fence.

Kyoto Protocol

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Government regarding its decision not to seek ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.

Bill Rammell: President Putin stated at the World Conference on Climate Change in Moscow in early October that the Russian Government was still analysing the economic implications of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. The statement made by President Putin's economic adviser on 2 December does not appear to be an official statement of policy, and we look forward to a decision from the Russian Government when it has completed its assessment of the Kyoto Protocol.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment are attending the ninth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Milan, where Parties will be putting the finishing touches on preparations for entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Ministerial colleagues will continue to press their Russian counterparts on the importance of Kyoto ratification.

Lockerbie Bombing

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what the total value is of the compensation paid by the Libyan Government to the families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing;
	(2)  whether payments to solicitors acting for families of the Lockerbie victims were paid under contingency fee agreements for percentage payments;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the level of fees charged by solicitors in the Lockerbie case; and what action he is taking to limit such fees;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the families of the Lockerbie victims receive the highest possible proportion of compensation payments made.

Bill Rammell: Libya has agreed to pay $10 million per family in compensation for the Lockerbie bombing, payable in three tranches of $4 million, $4 million and $2 million on, respectively, lifting of UN sanctions against Libya, lifting of US bilateral sanctions against Libya, and removal of Libya from the United States' list of States involved in terrorism. The Government is not privy to the fee arrangements made between solicitors and their clients in the Lockerbie case and has no standing in this issue. The question of the level of fees charged by solicitors is entirely a matter for them and their clients.

Mr. Jafar Dhia Jafar

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons Mr. Jafar Dhia Jafar has been refused permission to attend a meeting of the Royal Society in London; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: I am withholding the information requested under exemption 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	It is not our practice to disclose details of the individual entry clearance cases in a public forum. However, I will write to the hon. Member with regard to this matter.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to announce the name of the new director of visa operations for India.

Chris Mullin: It is not normal procedure formally to announce such appointments. However, I will write to my hon. Friend.

Zimbabwe

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the political situation in Zimbabwe of that country's suspension from the Commonwealth.

Chris Mullin: Robert Mugabe's decision to withdraw Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth highlights the increasing isolation of his regime. It will do nothing to ease the current crisis and shows how far ZANU (PF) has moved since it signed up to the Commonwealth's principles for good governance agreed at Harare in 1991. Once Zimbabwe has returned to democracy it will be welcomed back into the Commonwealth.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Housing

John Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many private sector housing initiatives have been launched in each of the last 10 years; and what local authority funds have been committed to private sector housing initiatives (a) in each of the last 10 years and (b) since April 2002;
	(2)  how many private sector housing initiatives have been launched since April 2002.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments have launched many private sector housing initiatives over the last 10 years to improve the condition and management of the stock, and the rights and responsibilities of those who occupy it. These include:
	measures enabling local authorities to adopt schemes to register houses in multiple occupation, and improve their condition, in 1996. These will be succeeded by licensing provisions in the forthcoming Housing Bill;
	the sustainable home ownership initiative, in partnership with the lending and insurance industries, to improve the quality and take up of mortgage protection payment insurance, in 1999;
	new, wider powers for local authorities to provide assistance to owners and tenants to repair, improve and adapt their homes, in 2002;
	improved rights for leaseholders, including a new right to manage, improved enfranchisement and lease extension procedures and greater rights against unreasonable service charges, from 2002;
	pilot projects in five areas of low demand to help local authorities make best use of existing powers to improve the condition and management of the private rented sector, in 2003.
	In addition, a number of initiatives have been piloted during this period, including Home Information Packs and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also been involved in other initiatives launched, such as the National Approved Letting Scheme.
	Other measures will be included in the forthcoming Housing Bill.
	The condition of the private sector housing stock will also be improved as a result of initiatives including:
	neighbourhood renewal, through key mechanisms such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Funds and New Deal for Communities Programme, which can contribute to regenerating private sector housing;
	the nine market renewal pathfinders, which will help to tackle low demand and abandonment, including in private sector stock.
	Detailed information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost in respect of all local authority funding for private sector housing. However, information for expenditure on private sector renewal assistance is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 1993–94 461,914 
			 1994–95 436,382 
			 1995–96 401,981 
			 1996–97 381,094 
			 1997–98 310,300 
			 1998–99 313,943 
			 1999–2000 319,562 
			 2000–01 296,831 
			 2001–02 288,458 
			 2002–03 259,102

Local Government Finance

Robert Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage collection rate of council tax he expects in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister makes no estimate of the collection rate for council tax for the current or future years.

Local Government Finance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce additional council tax bands; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Local Government Act 2003 provides for a council tax revaluation in England in 2007 based on 1 April 2005 values. Ahead of that the Government will listen to the views of local government and taxpayers about council tax bands. Decisions on any changes to the banding structure will be taken nearer to the time of the revaluation.

School Finance

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions Ministers and officials have had with the Department for Education and Skills regarding the 2004–05 settlement for those local authorities whose formula grant increase is equal to their schools' formula spending share increase.

Nick Raynsford: Ministers and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Education and Skills have met on a number of occasions in recent months to discuss the additional resources that we propose to provide to these authorities.

Tamworth Borough Council

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of grant from all government sources Tamworth borough council has received in each year since 1996.

Nick Raynsford: Tabled are details of revenue grants received by Tamworth borough council as part of gross Aggregate External Finance (AEF) between 1996–97 to 2004–05.
	
		£000
		
			  Revenue support grant National non-domestic rates Specific grants within AEF 
		
		
			 1996–97 2,070 2,540 160 
			 1997–98 2,298 2,292 162 
			 1998–99 2,012 2,321 160 
			 1999–2000 1,902 2,514 164 
			 2000–01 1,765 2,813 160 
			 2001–02 2,017 2,773 183 
			 2002–03 1,824 3,100 211 
			 2003–04 2,809 2,603 (5)653 
			 2004–05 3,216 2,032 (6)— 
		
	
	(5) The increase in specific grants within AEF between 2002–03 and 2003–04 is due to large increases in Council Tax Benefit Administration and Housing Benefit Administration, plus the introduction of grants for Neighbourhood Wardens and Building Safer Communities.
	(6) Data not available until spring 2004 when it will be reported by local authorities on their RA and RA(SG) returns.
	Notes:
	1. The grants are on an unadjusted basis and may not be comparable between years, because transfers of function may have taken place.
	2. Information on specific grants up until 2002–03 is taken from local authority outturn returns. From 2003–04, where outturn information is not yet available this is based on local authority budget returns.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Written Constitution

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a written constitution for the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: There are no plans to draft a written constitution for the United Kingdom.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Christopher Leslie: Catering services to meet my Department's requirements are provided through contractual arrangements with specialist suppliers.
	My Department will continue to take every opportunity to encourage the use of fair trade products through its procurement activities, and specifically during the course of the review of the arrangements for contracted catering services that is currently under way.

Immigration Appeals

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications were made to judicially review a decision of the immigration appellate authorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were granted permission for a review.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(7) 
		
		
			 Receipts where the First Defendant was recorded as IAT/Adjudicator/IAA 848 740 1,276 1,773 1,396 
			 Grants of permission made during the relevant calendar year where the First Defendant was recorded as IAT/Adjudicator/IAA 306 284 302 290 252 
		
	
	(7) to end November.
	Notes:
	1. Cases are recorded in the Administrative Court Office database by defendant and only those cases in which the first defendant is recorded as the Immigration Appeal Tribunal, Adjudicator or Immigration Appellate Authority have been included.
	2. These figures do not include any case in which the Secretary of State for the Home Department is recorded as the first defendant.
	3. The figures for grants reflect decisions made in the calendar year. To identify the decisions in each of the cases received in the calendar years in question (a total of 6,033) would involve an audit on a case-by-case basis. Such an exercise would be labour intensive and would take several weeks.
	It should be noted that due to the way in which details of cases were entered in the Administrative Court Office database prior to 2002, the above figures should not be regarded as providing a precise record of the applications received and granted.

Immigration Appeals

Ross Cranston: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, in each of the last five years, how many cases were decided by immigration adjudicators; how many and what percentage of such cases were appealed to immigration appeals tribunal; in how many and what percentage of the appealed cases the appeal was (a) allowed and (b) remitted to adjudicators; and in how many and what percentage of the cases in category (b) the adjudicator decided in favour of the applicant.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is contained in the following table Please note that the Immigration Appellate Authority does not hold certain elements of information prior to 2001. This is indicated in the table where appropriate:
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Case decided by adjudicators 38,117 28,600 27,134 56,813 84,259 
			 Number of cases applying for permission to appeal to the tribunal 14,356 11,142 7,365 18,046 28,945 
			 Number of substantive appeals to the tribunal 2,331 2,870 2,061 4,437 7,687 
			 Number of substantive tribunal appeals decided 1,841 2,619 3,568 3,867 6,564 
			 Percentage of tribunal appeals allowed Not held Not held Not held 18% 16% 
			 Percentage of tribunal appeals remitted Not held Not held Not held 45% 44% 
		
	
	Information on the number of appeals which are subsequently allowed by an immigration adjudicator following a remittal is not available without incurring disproportionate costs.

Mental Incapacity

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to bring forward legislation on mental incapacity in this parliamentary session.

Christopher Leslie: A draft Mental Incapacity Bill was scrutinised by a Joint Committee during the summer and their report was published on 28 November. My Department is working together with the Department of Health and stakeholders to consider the Committee's recommendations. We aim to respond in February 2004. We will seek to introduce the Bill in the current session of Parliament.

Work-related Stress

Vincent Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made towards the creation of a central register for cases of work-related stress in the Department.

Christopher Leslie: We have no central register for cases of work-related stress. However, under our sick absence management policies, managers are responsible for informing our in-house Welfare service immediately if the cause of an employees absence is stress or depression. Our Welfare Officers are fully trained, and ideally placed, to deal with issues involving work-related stress.
	My Department is committed to reducing work-related stress. We have introduced a range of stress management courses for both managers and non-managers, and are currently working on a Stress at Work policy, which takes account of the latest HSE standards, and aims to:
	ensure that all employees are aware of the factors that can produce stress and are able to take preventative measures to avoid creating stressful situations;
	ensure that employees watch for evidence of undue stress in their own and others' behaviour and take prompt action, using all available support, to reduce stress levels in my Department.
	My Department introduced a wide range of work-life balance policies during 2001, enabling staff to adopt more effective working patterns to better balance their work and home life. My Department won the Opportunity Now National Public Sector award earlier this year for these policies.

HEALTH

Pharmaceutical Trade

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the loss or gain to the Exchequer from the parallel trade of medicines.

Rosie Winterton: In terms of the impact on national health service expenditure, information is not routinely collected on the source of products, but from the data currently available the Department of Health estimates that parallel imports save the NHS in England approximately £60 million per year in the community sector.
	No estimate is available for the hospital sector. The Government have not made their own assessment of the loss to pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom from parallel trade. The NHS does not reap the full benefit of the price differentials associated with parallel trade, as much of the difference is lost within the supply chain across Europe. Ministers in the Department of Health meet representatives of the pharmaceutical industry frequently to discuss issues affecting that sector, including parallel trade in Europe. The most recent meeting was on 2 December, between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health, Lord Warner, and representatives of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the number of people who will be affected by the Government's decision to extend implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance to make photodynamic therapy available to those suffering from age-related macular degeneration.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	On the basis of limited epidemiological data the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimated that each year in England and Wales there may be 5,000 to 7,500 new cases of predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) associated with wet age-related macular degeneration. However, they noted, there is a high degree of uncertainty about this estimate.
	It was the Department's assessment, informed by advice from NICE, that the national health service would be unable to implement the guidance in full within the usual three-month period. We have previously varied the direction on five occasions when it was required to implement effectively the guidance to provide the service to patients.
	Patients are already receiving photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the NHS and we are committed to working with the NHS to facilitate implementation by July 2004. We want to see eligible patients benefiting from effective treatment: this is why we are implementing the NICE guidance as quickly as possible and have asked the NHS to ensure that patients with suspected classic with no occult CNV are treated wherever capacity exists to do so.

Cabinet Office Website

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Cabinet Office website referred to in the Winter Supplementary Estimates; if he will publish the URL; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The website referred to in the Winter Supplementary Estimates is the Department's own website, which is in the process of being migrated onto DotP ('Delivering on the Promise'), a centralised content management platform. DotP has been developed and hosted by the e-Delivery Team in the Office of the e-Envoy, which is part of Cabinet Office.
	The Department's new website will go live early in the new year and will be available at www.dh.gov.uk.

Dental Laboratories

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by county those dental laboratories which have registered with his Department under the Medical Devices Regulations.

Melanie Johnson: This information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Sodium Depletion

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what risk assessment his Department has conducted on depleted sodium levels in elderly people during hot weather conditions;
	(2)  what advice his Department has issued to elderly people on salt consumption during hot weather conditions.

Melanie Johnson: The Department has not conducted any risk assessment on depleted sodium levels or issued any specific advice on salt consumption to older people during hot weather conditions.
	There is insufficient evidence to suggest that elderly people should modify their normal salt consumption during hot weather conditions. It is, however, important to maintain an adequate fluid intake.

Food Labelling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the Food Standards Agency to take steps to tackle misleading nutritional information in food labelling aimed at children.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recognises that nutrition labelling can help parents choose food that contributes to a healthy diet for their children, but notes that currently there is no mandatory requirement for such information to be included on all food labels. The FSA would like to see such a requirement for all pre-packed food, including that aimed at children, and is pressing the European Commission to act on this. A proposal, which would revise the current legislation on nutrition labelling, is expected next year.

General Practitioners

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) ambulance service and (b) acute NHS trusts have made representations about their capacity to assume additional responsibilities that may arise from the new general practitioner contract.

John Hutton: No representations have been received.

General Practitioners

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners were in training in (a) England and (b) North Somerset in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	The numbers of general practice registrars (GPRs) in England since 1998 and in North Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) since 2001 are shown in the table.
	Information prior to 2001 is not available at PCT level.
	
		GP registrars for England and North Somerset PCT -- Number (headcount)
		
			  England North Somerset PCT 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 1,446 — 
			 1999 1,520 — 
			 2000 1,659 — 
			 2001 1,883 13 
			 2002 1,980 10 
			 June 2003 2,157 11 
		
	
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1998–99, 30 September 2000–02 and 30 June 2003.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Genetic Information

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress is being made in developing a national policy on the use of genetic information by insurance companies after 2006;
	(2)  what steps (a) have been taken and (b) will be taken in 2004 to develop a regulatory framework for the use of genetic information by insurance companies after 2006;
	(3)  what stakeholders and interested groups (a) have been involved and (b) will be involved in 2004 in developing a national policy on the use of genetic information by insurance companies.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have made clear their position on the use of genetic test results for underwriting life and health insurance in the October 2001 Government response to the report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee: Genetics and Insurance.
	The Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC) is responsible for the evaluation of specific genetic tests and their relevance to particular types of insurance. The GAIC also provides independent scrutiny of compliance with the terms of the moratorium on the use of genetic test results by insurance companies, which runs until November 2006. If there is evidence of non-compliance with the moratorium by the insurance industry, then the Government are prepared to enforce it through legislation, if necessary.
	The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) has been asked to work closely with the GAIC to provide Government with further advice in developing a longer-term policy on the use of genetic information by insurance companies.
	The GAIC and HGC will also monitor the effectiveness of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) code of practice on genetics, which is mandatory for all ABI members.
	The HGC and GAIC held a well-received joint public meeting in September 2003. A number of interested groups and members of the public attended this meeting, including representatives from organisations concerned with genetic disorders, as well as from insurance and re-insurance companies, and non-governmental organisations with an interest in this area. The HGC and GAIC are planning a further such meeting in 2004.
	Research is also under way to consider the use of genetic information in insurance underwriting. This research will be completed by 2005.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the decision of the Food Standards Agency to vote to approve a licence for GM sweetcorn at the recent EU committee meeting;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the Food Standards Agency regarding the application for use of Bt11 GM maize in food considered by the EC Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health meeting on 8 December;
	(3)  what advice his Department has (a) given and (b) received from the Food Standards Agency on a decision regarding the application for use of Bt11 GM maize in food considered at the EC Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health meeting on 8 December.

Melanie Johnson: A vote on the authorisation of Bt11 sweetcorn was taken at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 8 December. The Food Standards Agency represents the United Kingdom at this committee. As is always the case at such committees, the UK delegation presented a position on behalf of the Government, which was agreed after consulting Ministers from all relevant Departments.
	The application for the authorisation of a line of genetically modified sweetcorn for food use was made in 1999 under the novel foods regulation (EC) No. 258/97. The dossier was reviewed by the European Union member states and then referred to the European Community Scientific Committee on Food (SCF). The SCF reviewed the application along with an additional dossier of information provided by the applicant, which responded to questions raised by member states. The SCF opinion was published in May 2002 and concluded that this line of GM sweetcorn is as safe for human food consumption as its conventional counterparts.
	The UK supported the proposal for authorisation because the criteria laid out in the relevant legislation had been met, namely: the product does not present a risk to the consumer, does not mislead the consumer and is not nutritionally disadvantageous compared with other foods that it might replace.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by Ms Pearl Brown for the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

Melanie Johnson: The report prepared by Ms Pearl Brown for the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust is not a Department of Health publication. The information requested is not held centrally by the Department of Health.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date (a) the Mersey Regional Ambulance Trust and (b) any member of its board received notification from the trust's solicitors that there was a prima facie case of gross misconduct against the chief executive; on what occasions this matter was discussed with the (i) chair and (ii) chief executive of the Strategic Health Authority; and what action was taken to investigate the matter following the advice from the trust's solicitors.

Melanie Johnson: The matter to which the question refers is one of individual employment between the trust and the employee. The information requested is not held centrally at the Department of Health.

Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates Ministers in his Department have held meetings with members and officials of the United States Administration since 1 January 2002; where each meeting was held; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which United States Administration Department attended each meeting; and which members and officials from the United States Administration attended each of these meetings.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) met the American Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, on 22 October 2002 while attending the Commonwealth Fund International Health Symposium in Washington.
	They met again on the 24 October 2002, when Mr. Thompson was present at a Ministerial Round Table discussion at the same Commonwealth Fund International Health Symposium in Washington.
	They met once more at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on 19 May 2003.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health met Mr. Thompson while attending the Commonwealth Fund International Health Symposium in Washington on 22 October 2003.
	The Minister of State, Department of Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) attended the Global Health Security conference in March 2002, which was attended by a number of United States officials from the Health, State and Defence Departments.
	In May 2002, he also attended a dinner during the World Health Assembly on Global Health Security at which Mr. Thompson was present.
	In November 2003, he met Mr. Thompson at the Berlin meeting on Global Health Security.

Pneumococcal Disease

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to put the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on the routine childhood immunisation schedule.

Melanie Johnson: The Government are very careful when considering introducing a new vaccine into the childhood immunisation schedule. We have to be sure that the vaccine is safe, and effective in preventing disease. It is also important to know how many doses that children need to be protected and at what age the doses should be given. We also need to be confident that introducing a new vaccine into the childhood immunisation schedule doses not interfere with the protection given by the other vaccines in the programme. We have to be sure that any new health intervention is cost-effective.
	The independent expert advisory body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is currently examining the evidence of the potential benefits of introducing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to the infant immunisation schedule. What is clear is that there are many uncertainties in the evidence, in particular in measuring the burden of pneumococcal disease, and in the amount of disease that is expected to be prevented by a vaccine in both the short and longer term, because it protects against only seven of the numerous strains of pneumococcus.
	Research is being undertaken to try to answer the questions, and the JCVI is assessing the evidence as it develops.

Pneumococcal Disease

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of (a) the number of children affected by pneumococcal disease in the last year for which figures are available and (b) the severity of the disease and its complications in each case.

Melanie Johnson: The nature of pneumococcal disease makes it difficult to measure with accuracy the burden of that disease. Notifications are for pneumococcal meningitis only and these are shown in the table for 2002.
	Information on individual cases is not available centrally.
	
		Number of notified cases of pneumococal meningitis in children for 2002
		
			 Age Number of cases 
		
		
			 0 years 49 
			 1–4 years 29 
			 5–9 years 6 
			 10–14 years 3 
			 15–24 years 8

Residential Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to produce national minimum standards of care for residential services provided by the NHS.

Stephen Ladyman: National minimum standards have been developed for a range of establishments and agencies regulated under the Care Standards Act. The National Care Standards Commission must take the standards into account when making any decision about whether an establishment or agency conforms to the relevant statutory regulations. The standards apply irrespective of who provides the service, thus care homes run by the national health service are subject to the standards.
	There are no plans to produce national minimum standards for NHS hospital accommodation although residential services provided in such establishments would come within the Commission for Health Improvement's rolling review.

Sexual Health

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many referrals were made to (a) genito-urinary medicine clinics and (b) sexual health clinics by a general practitioner (i) after diagnosis by the GP for treatment and (ii) for diagnosis and treatment in (A) the last 12 months for which figures are available, (B) 2000 and (C) 1997;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for treatment for a sexually transmitted infection after initial examination by a general practitioner was in (a) the last year for which figures are available, (b) 2000 and (c) 1997; what proportion of such treatments were overseen by the GP who made the initial diagnosis; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many, and what proportion, of general practitioners in England do not treat patients suffering from a sexually transmitted infection; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many general practitioners in England provide sexual health services; how many provided them (a) in 2000 and (b) in 1997; and how many have walk-in facilities.

Melanie Johnson: These data are not collected centrally. Data are only available on numbers of referrals from general practitioners to genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics and this is shown in the table. GUM clinics are open-access and this data does not include the vast majority of patients who will self-refer to GUM clinics or who are advised to attend by their GP without a formal referral letter.
	GPs are required to provide for the management and on-going treatment of patients who are ill, or believe themselves to be ill. Some GPs provide diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, others will make an initial assessment and advise the patient to attend a GUM clinic where more specialist skills and diagnostic tests are available.
	
		Outpatients: Number of GP Referrals made (Provider Based) for Genito-urinary medicine in England
		
			 Specialty Code Specialty Name GP referrals made in the Quarter 
		
		
			 360 Genito-urinary medicine 8,922 
			 360 Genito-urinary medicine 9,209 
			 360 Genito-urinary medicine 8,782 
			 360 Genito-urinary medicine 8,698 
			 360 Genito-urinary medicine 8,517 
			 360 Genito-urinary medicine 8,712 
		
	
	Source
	Department of Health QM08.

Student Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his Department's policy to pay for the top-up university fees charged to student nurses; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 December 2003
	Existing contracts between strategic health authorities and higher education institutions cover the full cost of training and top-up fees are not charged. The consultation document, Funding Learning and Development for the Healthcare Workforce, sets out our proposal for a national model contract. It is intended that this contract for national health service-funded pre-registration courses, to be introduced from 1 April 2004, will specifically prohibit the charging of top-up fees to students.

Vaccination and Immunisation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to NHS trusts concerning Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendations.

Melanie Johnson: Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is made public on the JCVI website, and in the book Immunisation against Infectious Diseases. If new advice is given that results in a new vaccination campaign, this is communicated to trusts via Chief Medical Officer/Chief Nursing Officer/Chief Pharmaceutical Officer letter.

Vaccination and Immunisation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation are endorsed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Melanie Johnson: The agendas and minutes for Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation meetings are routinely sent to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, and both committees collaborate to work on topics such as antiviral agents for influenza.

Works of Art

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 was; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of its works of art has been since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not own any works of art, nor has it purchased or sold any since 1997.

TREASURY

European Council of Finance Ministers

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN meeting held on 25 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended ECOFIN on 25 November.
	The Council discussed the Excessive Deficit Procedure for France and Germany (recommended under Article 104(8)). Council did not vote in favour of the Commission proposals under both Article 104(8) and 104(9) to enforce the excessive deficit procedures against both countries, therefore the decision was not adopted. It agreed non-binding Council conclusions and a separate declaration.
	The UK did not support the Commission's proposal under Article 104(8). The Council reached an agreement on a general approach on the Transparency Directive. A compromise was reached on the important issue of mandatory quantitative quarterly reporting, whereby companies with shares on regulated EU markets will be required to disclose qualitative information, similar to trading statements, about the company's performance at least once in the six-months periods following the date of their annual and half-yearly reports. This was a success for the UK and followed our intervention at the 4 November ECOFIN when I expressed strong concerns about the regulatory burden of introducing mandatory quarterly reporting across the EU.
	The Council noted a Commission presentation on its implementation report on the Risk Capital Action Plan and Conclusions were adopted inviting the Commission and the Financial Services Committee to undertake further work.
	The Council took note of a report from the Code of Conduct group on the implementation of rollback and standstill. The group was asked to report back on rollback and standstill before summer 2004.
	On VAT Reduced Rates, Council agreed to extend the VAT labour intensive services experiment for two years and produced a declaration to this effect, inviting the Commission to make the appropriate proposals.
	proposals.
	The Commission presented its company tax communication, which was discussed further at the conference on EU corporate tax reform in Ostia on 5–6 December.
	On the structural indicators to be used in the Commission's Spring Report for the European Council, the Commission welcomed a Joint Committee text. The Council invited the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) to finalise the issues for approval at the next General Affairs (GAERC) meeting.
	The Council adopted a report on European Action for Growth to be forwarded to the European Council in 12–13 December. The Council reached political agreement on an increased rate of Trans-European Networks co-financing of 20 per cent. for certain projects.
	The Council adopted two reports concerning the European Investment Bank (EIB): on the mid-term review of EIB lending mandates and on the review of the EIB facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP).
	The Council agreed to an additional allocation of EUR 500 million for lending to Russia and the Western Newly Independent States by the EIB until January 2007. In a unilateral declaration the UK noted
	"agreement reflected the assurance given by the Commission that the increase is compatible with the margin in the Loan Guarantee Reserve". Council also agreed to develop further and reinforce FEMIP within the EIB.
	On the Investment Services Directive, a UK-drafted Declaration was agreed, that will accompany the formal adoption of a Council Common Position on 8 December. This Declaration helpfully indicates Council's desire to reach an agreement with the European Parliament on this Directive by April 2004.

Inland Revenue

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual efficiency savings targets were set for Inland Revenue in 2002 to 2003; what Inland Revenue's performance against these targets was in each year; and what the total sum paid in performance related pay as a consequence of Inland Revenue's achievement was in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 the Inland Revenue had a target to
	"Improve value for money by achieving productivity gains of at least 2.5 per cent. per year until March 2004 without detriment to accuracy or customer satisfaction". This was set by Spending Review 2000. This target is measured by reference to four Performance Indicators and the results for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are set out below. The results for 2003–04 will not be known until after the end of the Financial Year. Spending Review 2002 also gave the Inland Revenue a value for money target that came into effect in 2003–04 to
	"Achieve annual efficiency savings of at least 2.5 per cent. per year until March 2006, without detriment to accuracy or customer satisfaction." The results for 2003–04 will not be known until the end of the Financial Year.
	
		IR performance against productivity target: -- Percentages
		
			  2001–02 target 2001–02 result 2002–03  target 2002–03 result  
		
		
			  Percentage improvement in:  
			 Taxpayer cases dealt with per staff year 2.5 0.90 2.5 4.8 
			 Number of Nl work items per staff year 2.5 7.0 2.5 7.8 
			 Number of WFTC decisions per staff year 2.5 3.4 2.5 12.4 
			 Number of DPTC decisions per staff year 2.5 21.4 2.5 2.6 
		
	
	The need to make efficiency savings is only one of several objectives that any individual could have in their Performance Agreement. It is therefore impossible to quantify the amount of individual performance related pay that has arisen from the achievement of such targets. However, it is the case that performance related pay is only paid to individuals who have met or exceeded their Performance Agreement in total.

Inland Revenue

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 2 December 2003, Official Report, column 345W, on Inland Revenue (IT Systems), who the prospective suppliers who engaged in the Inland Revenue's market-making exercise for the EAGLE project prior to the placement by Inland Revenue of the Procurement Notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities were.

Dawn Primarolo: The initial Market-making exercise for the EAGLE contract prompted six responses prior to the placement of the Procurement Notice in the OJEC. The suppliers involved were:
	CSC Europe/IBM UK;
	EDS Ltd.;
	Hoskyns Group Plc;
	ICL/Anderson Consulting;
	Digital Alliance (Digital Equipment Co., Logica and Barclays);
	Sema Group UK.
	Of these suppliers, two were invited to tender—EDS Ltd. and CSC Europe/ IBM UK. The preferred supplier was announced in December 1993, and the contract awarded in May 1994.

Inland Revenue

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the EAGLE Invitation to Tender (ITT) contained a provision that the Inland Revenue might undertake a review of the tax affairs of the companies responding to the ITT and that such reports might be used as a factor in the evaluation of tenders.

Dawn Primarolo: The EAGLE Invitation to Tender (ITT) did not contain any provision that the Inland Revenue might undertake a review of the tax affairs of the companies responding to the ITT or that such reports might be used as a factor in the evaluation of tenders.

Tax Credits

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are being taken to ease the financial burden on firms whose research and development tax credit claims are under retrospective investigation by the Inland Revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: Companies claim R&D tax credits by entering figures on their Corporation Tax Self Assessment return at the end of the accounting period in which the R&D is undertaken. Companies self assess the amount of R&D tax credits due to them and receive payment of any R&D tax credit in line with their self-assessment.
	Only a proportion of returns which contain an R&D tax credit claim will be inquired into. Where a return is inquired into, payments of the tax credit may be withheld during the inquiry but interim payments can be agreed.

Smoking

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cigarettes have been consumed in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; what the total revenue generated from duties was; what percentage of cigarettes were (a) smuggled and (b) crossborder sales of cigarettes in each year since 1997; and how much was lost in revenue from duty in each case.

John Healey: All figures relating to 2000–01 to 2002–03, and the smuggled cigarette share estimates for earlier years are published in "Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses (December 2003)".
	The same figures for 1999–00 are contained in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses (November 2002).
	Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.
	Information on the total revenue generated from UK cigarettes duties can be found in the HM Customs and Excise 'Tobacco Bulletin'.
	Copies of all these documents are available in the Library of the House.

Tourism

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue was raised from hotel accommodation in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The figures are not available in the format requested. They would be available only at disproportionate cost and would require assumptions about tax incidence that could render the results misleading.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Open Academies

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the admissions policy of each academy.

David Miliband: I am pleased to confirm that copies of the admissions policies for all open Academies have been placed in the Libraries.

Children and Family Court Advisory andSupport Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the current status is of the board of CAFCASS; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he proposes to publish Sir Clive Booth's report on the operation of the board of CAFCASS;
	(3)  what his plans are for the future of CAFCASS;
	(4)  what changes have been made to the complaints procedure of CAFCASS since the appointment of the Children's Minister;
	(5)  what changes to the operation of CAFCASS have been initiated by the Minister for Children.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 December 2003
	I am pleased to announce that Baroness Pitkeathley OBE has been appointed as Chairman of CAFCASS, with effect from 11 December 2003. In order for her to take the service forward, all but one member of the existing Board have agreed to resign.
	The Government are grateful to them for their willingness to stand down and for their commitment and hard work since CAFCASS was launched.
	As an interim measure Baroness Pitkeathley will be assisted by a temporary Board comprising:
	Richard Sax
	Baroness Howarth of Breckland OBE
	Professor Jane Tunstill
	Nicholas Stuart CB
	We will be placing advertisements shortly for appointment to a new permanent Board.
	The Board member who has declined to resign is being asked to accept the suspension of their Board membership, pending further consideration of their position.
	There are no plans to publish Sir Clive Booth's report.
	CAFCASS will be a key element of the Government's new focus on children's services. The Government Green Paper "Every Child Matters" sets out an exciting new agenda and CAFCASS has an important role in its delivery.
	CAFCASS is a national non-departmental public body for England and Wales. As such, responsibility for its day-to-day work rests with its Executive Team and Board. I have, therefore, initiated no changes in its operation, though CAFCASS itself introduced a new complaints procedure with effect from April 2003.

Coalfield Communities

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the education ministers of (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) the Scottish Parliament on educational attainment in coalfield communities.

Ivan Lewis: I have regular discussions with Ministers from both the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament regarding education matters (including educational attainment). However these discussions have not related to educational attainment in coalfield communities specifically.

Coalfield Communities

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he and his officials have had with the Coalfield Communities Campaign on the levels of educational attainment in coalfield communities.

Ivan Lewis: My officials have an on-going dialogue with the Coalfield Communities Campaign on issues that need to be addressed in order to improve educational attainment.

Coalfield Communities

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what studies of education attainment in coalfield communities have been undertaken since the 2001 Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research Study.

Ivan Lewis: Following the DfES commissioned study "Patterns of Educational Attainment in the British Coalfields", to which the hon. Gentleman refers in his question, my Department, together with the Coalfields Community Campaign, commissioned a further research project, "Raising Attainment in Schools in the Former Coalfield areas", with a view to learning more about factors that have led to school improvement in these areas. This research drew up case studies of eight schools in coalfield areas that are doing well, despite challenging circumstances.
	The final report has recently been distributed to all secondary schools in coalfields areas as a tool for strengthening performance.

Education (North-west)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants were employed in (i) nursery, (ii) primary and (iii) secondary education in (A) St. Helens, (B) Merseyside and (C) the North West Region, in each year since 1992.

David Miliband: The following tables show full-time equivalent (FTE) regular teachers and teaching assistants in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in January of each year. Nursery and primary staff are shown as a group because staff providing nursery education within primary schools cannot be identified separately.
	
		FTE Regular Teachers(8)
		
			  St. Helens Merseyside(9) North West(10) 
			 Year Nursery and primary Secondary Nursery and primary Secondary Nursery and primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1992(11) 770 850 6,290 6,020 29,210 28,590 
			 1993(11) 780 850 6,240 6,040 29,400 28,800 
			 1994 790 800 6,300 5,880 29,380 27,190 
			 1995 780 790 6,300 6,010 29,310 27,380 
			 1996 750 760 6,300 6,040 29,370 27,060 
			 1997 760 760 6,270 5,940 29,210 27,190 
			 1998 740 750 6,090 6,080 28,840 27,440 
			 1999 730 760 6,000 6,160 29,070 28,050 
			 2000 730 760 6,040 6,080 29,190 28,100 
			 2001 730 760 6,040 6,290 29,010 28,480 
			 2002 720 760 6,060 6,640 29,380 29,310 
			 2003 760 790 5,990 6,390 29,100 29,490 
		
	
	(8) Excludes occasional teachers
	(9) Includes Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral Local Education Authorities.
	(10) Includes Merseyside.
	(11) Sixth form colleges are included in the secondary sector for 1992 and 1993.
	Source:
	DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies (Form 618G)
	
		FTE Teaching Assistants(12)
		
			  St. Helens Merseyside(13) North West(14) 
			  Nursery and Primary Secondary Nursery and primary Secondary Nursery and primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1992 130 (15)— 680 10 4,370 180 
			 1993 150 (15)— 780 20 4,750 200 
			 1994 190 (15)— 890 30 5,100 270 
			 1995 180 (15)— 990 40 5,480 340 
			 1996 180 10 1,060 70 5,990 500 
			 1997 190 10 1,100 100 6,340 630 
			 1998 200 10 1,150 130 6,720 750 
			 1999 210 20 1,230 160 6,930 950 
			 2000 220 20 1,360 220 7,630 1,200 
			 2001 280 40 1,910 350 9,740 1,650 
			 2002 290 50 1,660 510 9,630 2,250 
			 2003 350 60 2,370 600 12,010 2,730 
		
	
	(12) Includes nursery assistants, teaching assistants, special needs support staff and from 1996 minority ethnic support staff
	(13) Includes Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral Local Education Authorities.
	(14) Includes Merseyside
	(15) Number less than 5
	Source
	Annual Schools Census

Education Spending

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) of 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 89W, on education spending, what the basic amount included in the figures is for each (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil; and if he will list separately the amounts included in the figures he gave for (i) deprivation, (ii) additional costs and (iii) sparsity.

Charles Clarke: The basic entitlement in the Education Formula Spending Share calculations for 2004–05 is £2,111.59 for primary pupils and £2,826.23 for secondary pupils.
	Tables showing the breakdown for the primary and secondary formula spending share for each local authority are available on the Department's school funding website and copies have been placed in the Libraries.

Further Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students studied (a) part-time and (b) full-time in further education in each of the last five years; and how many (i) full and (ii) part-time lecturing staff there were in each of those years; what figures for student/lecturer ratios for further education over this period he uses.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The numbers of full time and part time students studying at further education sector colleges in the five years to 2001/02 were published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in the Statistical First Release (SFR) "Student Numbers At Colleges In The Further Education Sector And External Institutions In England In 2001/02" on 19 December 2002 and are shown in the following table. The numbers of full time and part time teaching staff in further education sector colleges in the five years to 2001/02 were published by the LSC in "Staff Statistics, 2001/2002" on 30 October 2003 and are also shown in this table.
	
		Student and staff in further education sector colleges 1997/98 to 2001/02 -- Thousand
		
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 
		
		
			 Students  
			 Full time 925.1 890.6 860.7 839.6 870.7 
			 Part time 2,211.8 2,124.0 2,076.1 2,215.0 2,625.9 
			   
			  Teaching staff   
			 Full time 47.0 46.1 45.6 46.8 47.3 
			 Part time 92.7 95.7 91.1 87.5 89.6 
		
	
	Sources:
	LSC Individualised Student Record; Staff Individualised Record
	Staff student ratios are based on full time equivalents and are routinely published in the DfES Departmental Report. The following figures are derived from Annex L of the Department's 2003 Report. 2001/02 figures are not yet available.
	
		Student to teaching staff ratio (in full time equivalents) in further education sector colleges
		
			  Student/staff ratio 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997/98 16.2 
			 1998/99 16.1 
			 1999/2000 15.9 
			 2000/01 14.9 
			 2001/02 n/a 
		
	
	Sources:
	LSC Individualised Student Record; Staff Individualised Record

Graduate Income

Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the latest Government estimate is of the extra life-time earnings arising from graduation;
	(2)  what the statistical sources are for Government estimates of extra life-time earnings arising from graduation;
	(3)  whether Government estimates of extra life-time earnings of graduates are (a) pre-tax and (b) post-tax.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 1 December 2003
	Higher Education is undoubtedly a good investment for the average graduate. The Department has previously estimated that first degree graduates earn on average around £120,000 more —in present value terms—over their working lives than those with two or more A-levels. The analysis is based on the spring 2002 quarter of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Great Britain. The £120,000 differential is derived from gross lifetime earnings streams that are assumed to grow at 2 per cent. per annum in real terms and are discounted at a rate of 3.5 per cent 1 . The Department estimates that the differential would fall to around £90,000 using net lifetime earnings streams, given that higher earning degree-holders would pay more tax on average over their working lives than those with only A-levels.
	1 Real earnings are assumed to grow in line with productivity at 2.0 per cent., as set out in Annex A of The Budget 2003. The discount rate of 3.5 per cent. is the rate used by the Treasury in deciding whether public investments are worthwhile.

Key Stage 1

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reform assessment methods at Key Stage 1; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: We have developed a new approach to assessment at Key Stage 1. We have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to trial an approach that uses testing to underpin teacher assessment.
	Teachers will make a rounded assessment of each child, taking into account task and test results and their own judgement on the child's work. 37 LEAs are in the trial. If the trial is successful it will be extended to all schools in the next academic year.

Oxbridge Funding

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government contribution was, at today's value, towards the funding of (a) Oxford and (b) Cambridge universities, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of the total, in (A) 1973, (B) 1980, (C) 1990 and (D) 2003.

Alan Johnson: The information is shown in the following table using 2002–03 prices.
	
		
			  £ million Percentage of total 
		
		
			 Cambridge   
			 1972–73 97.3 71 
			 1980–81 81.5 57 
			 1990–91 83.6 37 
			 2001–02 142.8 31 
			
			 Oxford   
			 1972–73 97.4 68 
			 1980–81 85.5 53 
			 1990–91 86.5 35 
			 2001–02 138.6 33 
		
	
	Sources:
	Statistics of Education—Universities 1973, University Statistics—Finance 1980 and 1990–91, and HESA—resources of higher education institutions 2001–02.

School Finance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the local authorities whose grant increase is equal to their schools' formula spending share increase in the 2004–05 settlement.

Charles Clarke: No Ministers from the DfES have had specific discussions with the relevant local authorities regarding the 2004–05 settlement. Representatives of local authorities and the Local Government Association were involved in discussions on this topic with officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at Settlement Working Group meetings.

School Finance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to local authorities regarding the passporting of schools' formula spending share budget increase of the 2004–05 settlement.

Charles Clarke: Both myself and my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authorities with an education responsibility setting out their clear expectation that LEAs will passport their Schools Formula Spending Share in full unless there are wholly exceptional circumstances. The Government have ensured that every authority will receive an increase in its Formula Grant which is at least as big as its cash SFSS increase, on a like-for-like basis and has put additional resources into other services—a total of £300 million in additional Revenue Support Grant and specific formula grant to ensure that a decision to passport the full SFSS increase to schools should not be at the expense of other services.
	Officials have also written twice to Chief Education Officers, firstly setting out the basis of the passporting calculation and explaining the amendments to the "reserve power" provisions of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (as amended) which were recently enacted through the Local Government Act 2003; and secondly setting out the passporting figures, the steps authorities need to take and the timetable involved.

Small Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department uses a database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes.

Stephen Twigg: There is no DfES departmental small business contact database. Normally DfES uses contacts in the representative bodies eg Small Business Council, Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses; or through our delivery partners such as Learning and Skills Council and Sector Skills Development Agency as a way of consulting small firms. DfES shares research that the Small Business Service or DTI have gathered. The Department's small firms portal can also be used to seek views.

Specialist Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of specialist schools are permitted to select pupils by aptitude.

David Miliband: holding answer 1 December 2003
	Section 102 of the 1998 Education Act and associated Regulations made under it allow schools with a specialism in modern foreign languages; the performing arts; the visual arts; physical education or sport; design and technology or information technology to select up to 10 per cent. of their intake on the basis of aptitude in the relevant specialism.
	Ninety per cent. of mainstream secondary schools currently designated as specialist schools have one or more of these subjects as part of their specialist curriculum.

Student Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) fee remission systems, (b) grants and (c) bursaries he proposes for (i) higher education and (ii) other level 4 courses delivered through the further education system.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 9 December 2003
	The HE White Paper sets out our proposals for student support. From 2004, we are introducing a grant worth up to £1,000 to assist students from low-income backgrounds. The full grant will be available to those whose household income is below £15,200, estimated to be around 30 per cent. of students. This is in addition to the loans available for students' living costs, currently of up to £4,930 and a grant for tuition fees currently worth up to £1,125 a year. From next year, the hardship loan fund will be merged into the Access to Learning Fund. All payments of grants will be non-repayable and will be delivered through universities and colleges. Students with dependants and disabled students will continue to benefit from a series of grants that are designed to assist with the cost of entering higher education. We are also introducing a more flexible package of support for part-time students. Full details on the 04/05 student support package were announced on 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 61WS.
	From 2006, students will no longer have to pay up-front fees. Instead, we will offer a loan for fees, which with the maintenance loan will be repayable after graduation once earnings exceed £15,000. Any institution that wishes to charge higher fees must first have an access agreement, approved by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). We are considering and discussing the content of access agreements, including bursaries and other financial support, and the role of OFFA, and will make an announcement in due course.

Student Finance

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the oral answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) on 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 504, if he will publish the alternative methods for funding higher education being considered by his Department.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 9 December 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the letters from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly) dated 11 April, 3 June and 12 November, and also to our response to the Education and Skills Select Committee of 28 July. Copies of all these documents have been placed in the House Library. We will be providing further information in due course.

Student Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in each university are receiving (a) full fee remission and (b) bursary support.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 9 December 2003
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Student Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned into students' risk aversion to debt.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 9 December2003
	The Department has recently published results from the 2002–03 Student Income and Expenditure Survey. This showed that more students are taking on debt; 92 per cent. of students anticipated leaving university with debts in 2002–03. All students are taking on more debt on average, partly as a result of the complete replacement of mandatory grants with student loans, and partly to finance higher levels of expenditure.
	In addition, in 2001 the Department published research entitled, 'Social Class and Higher Education: Issues Affecting Participation by Lower Social Class groups' which amongst other things explored the relationship between social class and students' attitudes to debt. This research showed that most potential and current students accepted that they would accumulate debt but felt that the investment was worthwhile and that most current students were confident about paying back the debt they were accruing.
	Both research reports are available from the Department's website at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/

Teaching Methods

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new teaching methods are being introduced geared to each child's ability.

Stephen Twigg: The national Primary and Key Stage 3 Strategies have enabled teachers to improve and broaden their teaching skills to raise standards of attainment for children of all abilities. Typical of their approach to inclusion has been the help on challenging and supporting all pupils in whole class teaching, in the ways in which teachers differentiate tasks, in the ways pupils are grouped, and in the ways in which teaching assistants are used to support pupils. This year Key Stage 3 Challenge Programmes offer support in new approaches in one-to-one teaching for pupils who are falling behind in basic skills. Our programme for gifted and talented education, including our support for the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Young, is also helping to develop teachers' understanding of the most effective approaches to the teaching of the most able pupils.
	Our ambitions for personalised learning in schools are that universal provision should be tailored-to the needs of every child. Central to this agenda are that teachers have more effective skills in formative assessment. We know through a wide body of research, for example through the Ofsted report "Good Assessment in Secondary Schools" published earlier this year, that the quality of assessment by teachers has a significant impact on attitudes to learning through challenging children and through encouraging teachers to focus on how to improve the learning skills of individual pupils. That is why we have made available to all schools the new Pupil Achievement Tracker to help them identify their pupils' strengths and weaknesses and set appropriate targets for development, based on the results of pupils in their National Curriculum Tests. And through the Primary and Key Stage 3 Strategies we will be making available to teachers next year support in assessment for learning techniques and approaches.

Timber

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what means the Department's policy for purchasing timber and timber products ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills uses the Ministry of Defence and Office of Government Commerce contracts for the supply of office furniture. These are compliant with all current Government guidance. It is also departmental policy to include the model timber specification clause in all relevant contracts, and all buyers of timber and timber related products are aware of central Government guidance.

University Funding

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list written representations he has received from the vice-chancellors of (a) Oxford, (b) Cambridge, (c) Sheffield and (d) Sheffield Hallam universities about university funding in the last three years.

Alan Johnson: Both my right hon. Friend and I have received numerous representations from universities on a number of matters related to the funding of higher education, both by means of formal correspondence and in meetings with Vice Chancellors and others from the higher education sector.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 9 December 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House on 9 December 2003, Official Report, Vol. 415, column 355W.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Antisocial Behaviour Orders have been issued in Suffolk in each year since their inception.

Hazel Blears: The number of notifications received by the Home Office of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued in Suffolk from 1 April 1999 up to 30 June 2003 (latest available) is given in the table.
	
		The number of notifications, as reported to the Home Office, of ASBOs issued in Suffolk, from 1 April 19991 to 30 June 2003 (latest available)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(16) 3 
			 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000 0 
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 4 
			 1 January 2002 to 30 November 2002 4 
			 31 December 2002 to 30 June 2003(16) 11 
			 Total 22 
		
	
	(16) From 1 April 1999 up to 31 May 2000 data collected by police force area (pfa).
	Note:
	Following implementation of the Police Reform Act (2 December 2002), data for December 2002 are incorporated into the first quarter 2003 data.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been provided with accommodation at public expense in (a) Hampshire and (b) Basingstoke and Deane borough council in each year since 1997; what type of accommodation they were given; and what the nature of the tenancy was in each case.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures in respect of asylum seekers in receipt of accommodation support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published at the end of each quarter by local authority area.
	Figures for the areas requested as at the end of each quarter since December 2002 are shown in the table:
	Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			  Numbers in NASS accommodation as at end 
			 Unitary/Localauthority December 2002 March 2003 June2003 September 2003 
		
		
			 Southampton 460 440 435 445 
			 Portsmouth 340 380 510 555

Correspondence

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 16 September from the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey regarding a constituent, Mr. Dennis Spalding, and his son John Spalding, ref DL2252.

Paul Goggins: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 27 November 2003.

DNA Database

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals on the national DNA database have not been convicted of a criminal offence; and what criteria are used to determine who should be on the database.

Hazel Blears: Section 63 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, as amended, provides powers for taking DNA samples from a person in police detention in the following circumstances:
	following charge with a recordable offence or notification that a suspect will be reported for such an offence;
	on an Inspector's authority, which may be given where the officer has reasonable grounds for believing the suspect is involved in a criminal offence and the sample will tend to confirm or disprove his involvement;
	following conviction for a recordable offence.
	Section 82 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 amends section 64 of PACE and allows the retention of a DNA profile where the person has either been acquitted or against whom charges have been dropped. There are approximately 109,000 such profiles.
	In addition, DNA profiles may also be retained from people who have voluntarily given a DNA sample and who have given their written consent to the profile being added to the National DNA Database. This will principally include people who have taken part in an intelligence screening exercise where an offender is believed to live in a particular area. There are approximately 10,500 such profiles.

Female Offenders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what analysis his Department has undertaken into the variation of sentencing penalties for female offenders imposed by (a) Crown Courts and (b) magistrates courts;
	(2)  what research his Department has undertaken into the variation by region of sentencing penalties for female offenders .

Paul Goggins: "Statistics on women and the CJS" (published annually under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991) provides information on the treatment of women across the criminal justice system. It includes a comparison of trends in custody rates at magistrates courts and the Crown Court, for both males and females. Figures on use of imprisonment for adult males and females are provided broken down by offence type as well as court. The next section 95 report containing 2002 data will be published in January 2004.
	Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 2001 Supplementary Tables Volume 4 Table S4.1E provides regional sentencing indicators for females in magistrates courts. Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 2001 Supplementary Tables Volume 2 table S2.2 provides figures for females sentenced at each Crown Court centre by type of sentence imposed. Figures for 2002 will be published later this month.

Forensic Science Service

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the capital investment needs of the Forensic Science Service identified in the Home Office review of the service.

Hazel Blears: The Review of the Forensic Science Service identified a capital requirement of between £20 million and £30 million in order to sustain business at its present level. The review team did not undertake a detailed study of the service's capital investment needs, which would be necessary to determine more precise figures.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the introduction of compulsory identity cards.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office has lead responsibility for developing the national identity cards scheme, which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 11 November. A national identity cards scheme will bring significant benefits in areas that are the responsibility of the Home Office. These include strengthening immigration controls, providing a means to encourage legal routes of migration to the United Kingdom, combating organised crime and terrorism and reducing identity fraud. The national identity cards scheme will be built incrementally by strengthening existing forms of identification, some of which are currently issued by the Home Office or one of its agencies such as residence permits and passports.

Immigration and Detention Centres

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued in relation to racist language and behaviour to staff at immigration and detention centres run by the Home Office and its agents; if he will publish them; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Under Rule 3(2) of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 operators of removal centres are required to recognise the need for awareness of the particular anxieties to which detained persons may be subject and the sensitivity that this will require, especially when handling issues of cultural diversity.
	The contract to operate Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre, in common with other such contracts, requires the centre operator to have a race relations policy approved by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. In addition, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate issued an Operating Standard on Race Relations to all removal centre operators in December 2002. This Standard sets out the minimum requirements expected of all removal centre operators. Copies of the two documents will be placed in the House Library.

Immigration and Detention Centres

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate allegations of (a) racism and (b) misconduct among staff at the Yarlswood Detention Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We take these allegations very seriously indeed. It is obviously of the utmost importance that staff at immigration removal centres should carry out their duties professionally and sensitively. Our contractor at Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre, Global Solutions Ltd. (GSL—formerly Group 4), has launched a full investigation into the allegations. The investigation will be conducted by a senior manager with no line management responsibility for Yarlswood. I have instructed the Director General of the IND to institute an independent investigation of the allegations.

Leicestershire Police

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to meet the Chief Constable of Leicestershire police.

Hazel Blears: The Home Secretary meets the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary at regular intervals in his capacity as the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) representative on the Lawrence Steering Group. The next meetings are scheduled for Wednesday 25 February and Wednesday 26 May 2004.

IRA Terrorism

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which dates terrorist incidents ascribed to the IRA have taken place in England since 1973.

David Blunkett: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	The table that has been placed in the Library details the number of incidents in Great Britain ascribed to Irish Republican terrorists on a yearly basis since 1973. Incidents include bomb attacks (including letter bombs), finds of improvised explosive devices, arrests and shooting incidents in Great Britain attributed to all Republican terrorist groups (OIRA, PIRA, RIRA, INLA). All incidents occurred in England except those that are indicated otherwise.

Policing (Gwent)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the trial Bobby on the Beat scheme in New Earswick.

Hazel Blears: The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust funded the project in New Earswick. I have not carried out any evaluation of the project myself, but am aware that a full evaluation was carried out by the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Leeds for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
	A full report of the research was published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on 9 October 2003 and is available, together with summary findings, on the Foundation's website at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/023.asp.

Prisons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of hours per week prisoners spent in education in the last 12 months was; and what the target figure is.

Paul Goggins: For the period September 2002 to August 2003 the average number of hours per week prisoners undertaking education spent in formal learning activities was 9.15. This excludes distance learning, private study, and learning which takes place on the wings, for example through peer support schemes.
	We do not have a target for the number of hours prisoners should be spending in education. Our targets for prisoner learning are outcome-based, focusing on improving prisoners' literacy, language, numeracy and vocational skills. In 2002–03 prisoners gained 41,518 basic skills achievements against a target of 28,800 (exceeding our target by 44.2 per cent).
	We are continuing to work towards widening prisoner access to appropriate learning opportunities: through increased investment, a robust quality improvement strategy, new contracts which put the individual at the centre of the learning process, and the support of newly appointed Heads of Learning and Skills across the prison estate.

Prisons

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the provision of education facilities in (a) prisons and (b) young offenders institutions in each of the past 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows education spend in prisons from 1993–94 to 2002–03.
	
		
			 Financial year Education expenditure (£ million) 
		
		
			 1993–94 31.08 
			 1994–95 36.75 
			 1995–96 36.95 
			 1996–97 34.50 
			 1997–98 36.17 
			 1998–99 39.04 
			 1999–2000 40.89 
			 2000–01 41.87 
			 2001–02 52.60 
			 2002–03 59.40 
		
	
	These totals do not include additional funding for the Youth Justice Board and curriculum development projects. The 2002–03 total does not include £4.4 million allocated to prisons from the Capital Modernisation Fund to enhance the quality, quantity and relevance of education and training. From April 2003 money for vocational training of £12 million a year transferred to the Department for Education and Skills.

Prisons

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the female receptions into prison has been (a) under sentence and (b) on remand (i) for non-violent offences and (ii) for sentences of six months or less for each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 2 December 2003
	The number of females received under sentence by offence group, for the last 10 years, is given in tables 3.11 and 4.7 of Prison Statistics England and Wales 2002.
	The number of females received under sentence by sentence length, for the last 10 years, is given in tables 3.12 and 4.8 of Prison Statistics England and Wales 2002.
	The number of females received on remand by offence group, for the last 10 years, is given in table 2.9 of Prison Statistics England and Wales, years 1994 to 2002.
	An individual who first enters the remand population and is subsequently received under sentence will be counted in both categories.
	Copies of Prison Statistics England and Wales are available in the Library.

Prisons

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff who are smokers; and what action he is taking to reduce the numbers.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 9 December 2003
	The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Approximately 80 per cent. of prisoners smoke.
	(b) There is no current estimate of the percentage of prison staff that smoke.
	The Directorate of Prison Health has recently completed a pilot programme to establish best practice for smoking cessation services in prisons. Five prisons were involved in the pilots and the rollout programme is such that all prisons will be involved in these services by the end of the financial year.
	Results so far indicate a similar success rate to that which is to be found with such initiatives in the community.
	Delivery will be evaluated over the next two years and further development work is ongoing with Strathclyde University.
	This year £500,000 has been allocated across all Primary Care Trusts that cater for prisons in their areas. It is planned that such funds will be made available each year through to 2006.
	Since 1 July 1996, Prison Governors have been required to comply with the Prison Service Workplace Smoking Policy. The aim of this policy is to ensure that a smoke-free working environment can be enjoyed by everyone.
	Smoking is not permitted in any office accommodation, including single occupancy offices and adjacent circulation spaces. Nor is smoking permitted in toilets, lifts and conference rooms.
	In prisons, smoking is banned in all visits areas and it is recommended that governors prohibit smoking in all communal areas. In establishing local smoking policies, Governors are encouraged to complement them with the provision of smoking cessation courses for those wishing to give up.

Proceeds of Crime Act

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value of assets seized by the Metropolitan Police under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been in 2003.

Caroline Flint: The total amount of cash seized by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) under new powers in the Act which came into effect on 30 December 2002 is £7,237,530. Cash seizures are subject to forfeiture proceedings in the magistrates' courts. The value of cash forfeited by the MPS under the new powers in the Act is £602,195.
	The confiscation powers in the Act, which are dependent on securing a conviction, are triggered by offences committed after the provisions were brought into force on 24 March 2003. It will, therefore, be some time before such cases are dealt with by the Crown Court in numbers.

Special Immigration Appeals Commission

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account of Scots Law principles is taken by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The jurisdiction of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission is United Kingdom wide. The Commission takes into account whatever principles of law are drawn to its attention in the appeals before it. In the appeals heard so far no principles peculiar to Scots Law, or to the law of England and Wales, have arisen.

Women Prisoners

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there were among the female prison population in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 to date.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of female self-inflicted deaths 
		
		
			 2001 6 
			 2002 9 
			 2003(17) 14 
			 Total 29 
		
	
	(17) to 26 November.
	The Prison Service employs the term 'self-inflicted death' rather than 'suicide'. This includes all those deaths where it appears the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life.
	The prison population, and particularly the women's estate, contains a large number of prisoners with a combination of factors that raise their risk of suicide. These include psychiatric disorders, a history of self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, relationship problems and previous abuse, and family background problems. Since January 2001, there has been a 34 per cent. increase in the women prisoner population.
	A proactive three-year strategy to develop policies and practices to reduce prisoner suicide and manage self-harm in prisons commenced in April 2001. The main principles of the strategy apply across all types of prisons and prisoners whether male or female. An investment of over £21 million through the three-year programme is enabling appropriate physical improvements to be made at six pilot sites, one of which is Eastwood Park prison and young offender institution.

Women Prisoners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of female prison establishments has the capacity to prescribe medications essential to detoxification in the evenings and at weekends.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of female prison establishments has the capacity (a) in the evenings and (b) at weekends to prescribe medications essential to detoxification.

Paul Goggins: All of the seven prison establishments that receive women direct from court have the capacity to prescribe medications essential to detoxification in the evenings and weekends.

Women Prisoners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of female prison establishments has a psychiatrically qualified doctor on duty (a) during the working day, (b) during the evening and (c) on a 24-hour basis.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the female prison establishments have a psychiatrically qualified doctor on duty (a) during the working day, (b) during the evening and (c) on a 24-hour basis.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available centrally. As part of the programme to implement the commitments to improved mental health services for prisoners in the NHS Plan (2000), the NHS is funding provision of multi-disciplinary mental health in-reach services at 94 establishments during 2003–04, including 11 for women. By 2006 such services will be available to all prison establishments.

Women Prisoners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget for the current financial year is for (a) mental health care to women prisoners and (b) the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder programme (i) in total and (ii) per capita.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated budget is (a) to provide mental health care to women prisoners and (b) for the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder programme (i) in total and (ii) per capita in 2003–04.

Paul Goggins: Funding for mental health services in prisons is not specifically identified or ring-fenced within prison budgets. "Changing the Outlook, a Strategy for Developing and Modernising Mental Health Services for Prisoners" (December 2001) estimated that around half of the Prison Service's then expenditure on health care was spent on mental health care. In the current financial year total Prison Service expenditure on health services in prisons in England and Wales (excluding the contractually managed prisons) is expected to be around £130 million, including £19 million on establishments holding only female prisoners. In addition, the Department of Health made £903,000 available for NHS mental health in-reach services in 11 women's prisons during 2003–04.
	In the current financial year £17.039 million has been allocated to meet the Home Office contribution to the development and running costs of the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder Programme. It is, however, too early in the development of this programme to give meaningful per capita costs.

Young Offenders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what academic and vocational education and training is available to young people serving custodial sentences.

Paul Goggins: The Government is investing £40 million over three years through the Youth Justice Board to provide a range of academic and vocational training opportunities for juvenile offenders. The specification for learning and skills being implemented includes programmes that allow young people to:
	Improve language literacy and numeracy skills
	Continue with GCSEs, A levels and AS levels
	Prepare for going back to schools, colleges or other places of learning
	Attain specific vocational skills and general employability skills
	Address offending behaviours
	Develop a range of study skills and make good use of learning materials
	There is a target for 90 per cent of juvenile offenders to engage in full-time education, training or employment by the end of 2004.

Young Offenders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what health services and support are available to young people (a) sentenced and (b) remanded to custody; and what specialist mental health services are available to repeat young offenders.

Paul Goggins: Young people held in prison custody, whether on remand or sentenced, have access to a full range of primary and specialist healthcare services through the institution's healthcare centre. Health care staff will arrange for any necessary specialist treatment to be provided, either within the institution or as an in-or-out patient at an outside hospital, as appropriate. A substantial programme of reform of prison health care, begun in 2000 on the basis of a partnership between the Prison Service and the NHS, is due to lead to the full devolution of prison health resources to NHS Primary Care Trusts by the end of March 2006.
	Young offenders who need in-patient treatment for mental disorder may be transferred to psychiatric hospitals.
	As part of the programme to implement the commitments to improved mental health services for prisoners in the NHS Plan (2000), the NHS is funding provision of multi-disciplinary mental health in-reach services at 94 prisons and young offender institutions during 2003–4. By 2006 such services will be available to all prison establishments.

Young Offenders

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) assaults and (b) instances of criminal damage there were in HM Young Offenders Institution Wetherby in each of the past five years.

Paul Goggins: The numbers of assaults in the establishment for each of the last five years, with numbers of serious assaults 1 shown in brackets, are:
	
		
			  Number of assaults Number of serious assaults 
		
		
			 April 1999 to March 2000 145 (4) 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 135 (4) 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 117 (10) 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 129 (5) 
			 April 2003 to October 2003 79 (2) 
		
	
	(18) 'Serious assault' is defined as an assault on any person, including fights (if resulting in detention in outside hospital as an in-patient, medical treatment for concussion or internal injury, fractures, scalds and burns, stabbing, crushing, extensive or multiple bruising, black eye, broken nose, lost or broken tooth, cuts requiring suturing, bites, temporary or permanent blindness or sexual assaults).
	Information about incidents of criminal damage is not recorded centrally for the Prison Service estate as a whole. However, since April 2003 there has been central recording by Prison Service juvenile group of incidents of significant damage 1 to the fabric of cells within the Prison Service juvenile estate. From April to October 2003 there were 64 such incidents at Wetherby.
	1 'Significant damage' is defined as any damage incurring a cost.

Young Offenders

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sick days were taken by staff at HM Young Offenders Institution Wetherby in each of the past five years.

Paul Goggins: Information on staff sickness absence at Wetherby young offender institution is contained in the following table. Reliable data are not available prior to April 1999.
	
		
			  Working days lost Working days lost per person 
		
		
			 1999–2000 2,456 10.1 
			 2000–01 2,700 11.0 
			 2001–02 3,984 15.5 
			 2002–03 4,291 15.5 
			 April to September 2003(19) 2,431 16.7 
		
	
	(19) April to September 2003 rate has been annualised.
	The overall sick absence rate across the Prison Service has fallen this year and currently stands at 13.3 working days per member of staff per year. The Director General is committed to reducing this level further. At Wetherby, the increase in absence since 2001–02 was due in particular to a rise in long-term sickness absence.
	However, I understand that there has been a significant reduction in such cases this year. In addition, a six-month pilot project has recently begun at Wetherby to provide a counselling and support service to staff to address issues associated with stress. It is too early to assess the impact of this project.

Young Offenders

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for (a) the removal of staff batons and (b) the proposed removal of staff uniforms at HM Young Offenders Institution Wetherby.

Paul Goggins: The policy on the use of staves and mini-batons is set out in Prison Service Order 1600. Female staff who have been trained in its use may be issued with a mini-baton, and this applies at juvenile establishments and units, including Wetherby. In line with the policy relating to juvenile establishments and units, staff at Wetherby have been required to follow the practice of not carrying staves within the establishment. In June 2003, after seeking clarification of the policy from Prison Service headquarters, the Governor ended the practice of issuing staff with staves when escorting young people outside the establishment.
	Staff in the operational support and prison officer grades at Wetherby continue to wear the traditional Prison Service uniform. Prison Service Order 4950 sets out a requirement for a less formal uniform for staff. Consultations on the implementation of this aspect of the Order are taking place at a national level. The Prison Service remains committed to implementing a uniform that is appropriate for use in juvenile establishments.